Greenpeace and whaling vessel collide
Minister says situation deteriorating
Whaling confrontation continues
Jan 11, 2006
The government has sent Air Force Orions to monitor clashes between protest boats and Japanese whaling vessels in Antarctic waters, but is rejecting a call to send a Navy frigate.
The Green Party has called for a frigate to be sent, following a threat from the Japanese government to send its own maritime police if the protest actions escalate.
Greenpeace also wants a frigate sent, saying its boats have been rammed twice by whaling ships. The protest group - Sea Shepherd - says its boat deliberately sideswiped a supply ship on Tuesday, while at the weekend a Greenpeace boat and a Japanese vessel collided.
Duty minister Chris Carter says the government doesn't intend to send a frigate but planes are flying over the area to keep an eye on the situation.
Greenpeace is also calling on the Australian government to reject any request from Japan to use Australia as a refuelling base for planes monitoring its whaling operation. Steve Shallhorn, from Greenpeace, says Australia should not take part in the exercise.
Japan's Fisheries Agency says it may consider sending planes to police its whaling operations in the Southern Ocean if anti-whaling groups keep disrupting their work.
Hideki Moronuki, from Japan's Fisheries Agency, says his agency is watching the situation.
things seem to be hotting up down here
Minister says situation deteriorating
Whaling confrontation continues
Jan 11, 2006
The government has sent Air Force Orions to monitor clashes between protest boats and Japanese whaling vessels in Antarctic waters, but is rejecting a call to send a Navy frigate.
The Green Party has called for a frigate to be sent, following a threat from the Japanese government to send its own maritime police if the protest actions escalate.
Greenpeace also wants a frigate sent, saying its boats have been rammed twice by whaling ships. The protest group - Sea Shepherd - says its boat deliberately sideswiped a supply ship on Tuesday, while at the weekend a Greenpeace boat and a Japanese vessel collided.
Duty minister Chris Carter says the government doesn't intend to send a frigate but planes are flying over the area to keep an eye on the situation.
Greenpeace is also calling on the Australian government to reject any request from Japan to use Australia as a refuelling base for planes monitoring its whaling operation. Steve Shallhorn, from Greenpeace, says Australia should not take part in the exercise.
Japan's Fisheries Agency says it may consider sending planes to police its whaling operations in the Southern Ocean if anti-whaling groups keep disrupting their work.
Hideki Moronuki, from Japan's Fisheries Agency, says his agency is watching the situation.
things seem to be hotting up down here
Comment