Media release

3 March 2008

Incident in the Southern Ocean

The Government is aware of reports of an incident this morning in the Southern Ocean in which liquid and powder substances were thrown on board a Japanese whaling vessel by crew members of the Steve Irwin.

Following the incident, Japan has advised the Australian Embassy in Tokyo that three or four crew members on board the Japanese vessel are being treated by a ship’s doctor.

I absolutely condemn actions by crew members of any vessel that cause injury – or have the potential to cause injury – to anyone on the high seas.

I have repeatedly called on all parties in the Southern Ocean – both crew members of protest and whaling vessels – to exercise restraint.

As I have previously outlined, now that the monitoring mission of the Oceanic Viking has been completed, neither protest nor whaling vessels can in any way assume that the Australian Government will be in a position to respond immediately in the event of any serious incident.

Crew members of ships in the Southern Ocean should not attempt to board other vessels. All parties should understand that to do so may well be contrary to the law of the flag state of any such vessel.

All parties should also understand that, now that the monitoring mission of the Oceanic Viking has been completed, it may not be possible for the Australian Government to intervene, in the event of another boarding incident, to facilitate the transfer of people from one vessel to another on the high seas.

For this reason, the Australian Government once again calls on all parties in the Southern Ocean – including all protest and whaling vessels, and their respective crews – to exercise the utmost restraint.

The Australian Government strongly discourages activity which could be illegal or unsafe activity which could lead to injury or loss of life at sea.

The Australian Government remains strongly committed to action to bring an end to Japan’s whaling programme in the Southern Ocean.

Media inquiries: Mr Smith's office 02 6277 7500 - Departmental Media Liaison 02 6261 1555