Australia to fight former allies in whaling battle
![Australia has suggested a five-year phase out of Japan's annual scientific program. [ABC]](http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201002/r519398_2866727.jpg "Australia has suggested a five-year phase out of Japan's annual scientific program. [ABC]")
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Australia has suggested a five-year phase out of Japan's annual scientific program. [ABC]
Sarah Clarke
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Australia will fight with some its former allies when the international whaling commission meets in Morocco in June.
The United States and New Zealand are pushing for a compromise which would allow Japan to conducted limited commercial whaling.
But Australia has rejected the deal at the meeting of IWC nations in Florida.
The compromise which could overturn a 24-year ban on commercial whaling in return for a reduced quota of whales taken by Japan for its scientific cull.
New Zealand and the US support the plan.
Nicola Beynon is from Humane Society International. "It's a let down to their electorates who are strongly supportive of whale conservation".
Australia's rejected the deal. It's proposed a five-year phase out of Japan's annual scientific program.
Australia's Environment Minister Peter Garrett said: "We will not agree to any compromise under any guise under any name".
The issue will come to a head at the IWC meeting in Morocco in June.
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