Australia reserves right for legal action on Japan's whaling
![Japan's new centre-left government says eating whale meat is an important part of the country's culture and it will not be reviewing the controversial whaling policy. [ABC]](http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200912/r484850_2487986.jpg "Japan's new centre-left government says eating whale meat is an important part of the country's culture and it will not be reviewing the controversial whaling policy. [ABC]")
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Japan's new centre-left government says eating whale meat is an important part of the country's culture and it will not be reviewing the controversial whaling policy. [ABC]
Linda Mottram, Canberra
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Australia's Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett says the Government is still reserving the right to take international legal action to stop the Japanese whaling program.
The Federal Opposition says it's time for the Government to give Japan a deadline to stop its program or face legal action.
But Mr Garrett says the Government is persisting with diplomatic efforts.
"We're not writing a blank cheque for discussions but we do believe that continuing the discussions that are underway constructively is absolutely essential to try and resolve some of these issues."
"If we can't resolve this matter diplomatically - and we will certainly continue to bring our best efforts to bear in order to do that - then international legal action is retained as an option," he said.
Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says Australia is working through evidence it could use in a court case against Japan on the issue.
"If we can't get there diplomatically let me be absolutely clear cut, that we will use the resources of the Australian government to deploy an international legal action through the appropriate international judicial forum."
Whaling to continue
Japan's new centre-left Government says that it will not change the country's policy on scientific research whaling.
Conservation groups had hoped the new government would review the whaling program, but in an interview the Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada told the ABC there was no need for a policy review on whaling.
He says the average Japanese wants to continue consuming whale meat.
"It might be there is something Australians eat but the Japanese do not. Food is an important element of culture" Mr Okada said.
The Japanese whaling fleet is expected to arrive in the Southern Ocean in about a week's time to begin the hunt for minke and fin whales.
"It would be a different story if those species were endangered species on the verge of extinction," Mr Okada said.
He says it's time Australia and Japan discussed the whaling issue without emotion and with more calm.
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