Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has threatened international legal action after the new Japanese Government declared there would be no change to its stance on whaling.

Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said in Tokyo that he saw no need for a review of the Government's policy, disappointing those who thought it might break with the past. His remarks were seen by anti-whaling groups as showing bad faith, with Japan and Australia involved in protracted closed-door reform talks at the International Whaling Commission. The Japanese statement come as its fleet, under escort from security ships, prepares to begin whaling in waters off the Australian Antarctic Territory next week.

At the same time, Mr Rudd is due to meet Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama in Tokyo. Mr Rudd said he would still prefer to discuss the issue diplomatically, but he described Mr Okada's statement as an obvious obstacle.

''Let me be very clear,'' Mr Rudd said. ''If we cannot resolve this matter diplomatically, we will take international legal action. I'm serious about that.''... Read Full Article by Andrew Darby

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