Mr NEWELL —Can the Minister for the Environment, Sport and Territories inform the House of the Government's position on the possible resumption of commercial whaling and the establishment of a Southern Ocean whale sanctuary?

Mrs KELLY —I thank the honourable member for his question and for his continuing interest in matters of the environment. The 45th annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission is being held this week in Japan. Australia takes to that meeting a very clear and unequivocal position. We oppose all commercial whaling and support worldwide protection of all whales and dolphins. We also support the French proposal for a whale sanctuary in all the Southern Ocean south of 40 degrees.

  There has been a great deal of media speculation about the possibility of the International Whaling Commission supporting the resumption of some commercial whaling. I wish to assure this Parliament that, if such a proposal is put to a vote, Australia will oppose it. We will continue to lead the push to maintain the global moratorium put in place in 1985-86 and I am confident that we will get enough support from other countries to ensure that that ban remains.

  There has been quite a lot of interest and support for the French sanctuary proposal for the Southern Ocean. Australia, of course, fully supports that proposal but, unfortunately, I am not confident that it will receive the 75 per cent majority needed for it to be implemented this year. If that proposal is defeated—and obviously I hope that it will not be—I and the Government are determined that Australia will lead the campaign to ensure that it is successful next year.

  Our job will be to make sure that the proposal is kept alive and refined to secure the support of enough countries at the next meeting. If this is the case, we will be seeking International Whaling Commission agreement for further work to be done on the sanctuary proposal, including the development of a timetable for its implementation and agreement on management issues. Australia will offer to host an intercessional planning meeting to facilitate that work.

  Australia has always taken a leading role on this issue of protection of whales and dolphins and we will continue to do so. Once again, there is significant international pressure to allow limited commercial whaling of some species and we think it is absolutely critical that Australia keeps the position it has and absolutely holds firm to that moratorium.

  I wish to assure the House and the people of Australia that this Government will continue to be at the forefront of efforts to secure the worldwide protection of these magnificent creatures and that we will do everything in our power to ensure the eventual establishment of a secure haven in the Southern Ocean.