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Scientific Partnership ‘Could be Used for Whaling’

(from ABC News) The Federal Opposition has asked the Government for an assurance that the results of a joint scientific research program between Australia and Japan will not go towards whaling research.

Under an agreement reached during the International Whaling Commission conference, Japanese scientists will take part in an Australian research voyage which will study plankton and krill in the Southern Ocean.

In a Parliamentary Committee, the Opposition and Greens have questioned whether the data could be used to form part of Japan”s argument for the killing of whales for scientific research.

Under questioning by Liberal Senator David Johnston, Water Minister Senator Penny Wong said Australia and Japan have a long history of scientific co-operation.

“In fact the scientific information that this research is focused on in effect undermines one of the arguments that Japan uses for lethal whaling in terms of their scientific research,” she said.

Senator Johnson clearly had his doubts.

“You trust our opponents inside the Commission to play with a straight bat Minister, how naive may I say,” he said.

 

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