Media Release: Visit to Brazil for International Whaling Commission Meeting

I will travel to Florianópolis, Brazil, from 8 to 10 September 2018 to lead Australia’s delegation at the 67th meeting of the International Whaling Commission.

Australia has worked tirelessly to bring about a permanent end to commercial and so-called ‘scientific’ whaling for many years. The Government is unwavering in its commitment to protect whales.

Australia will continue to oppose any efforts to overturn the global moratorium on commercial whaling, and will call on like-minded nations to join us in rejecting any proposal to allow commercial whaling.

We will also oppose any attempts to weaken the Commission’s decision-making rules or establish catch-limits for commercial whaling.

The Commission will also consider a range of other important issues at this meeting including aboriginal subsistence whaling, governance reform, special permit whaling, and a proposal to establish a South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary.

I look forward to working constructively with Commission members on these issues.