The Australian delegation to the IWC meeting here in Monaco took strong offence yesterday to accusations of "duplicity" and suggestions that it had not been acting in "good faith".
Although Australia has made it very clear in the recent history of the IWC that, like the US, New Zealand, the UK and the Netherlands, it is fundamentally opposed to any form of commercial whaling, one can perhaps be forgiven for assuming that Australia’s continued presence in the IWC has been somehow related to a desire to maintain dialogue and cooperation with other nations in attempts, such as the recent Irish initiative, to resolve the present deadlock. For those whose memories extend back that far, 1994 may be recalled as the year in which Australia introduced a long and detailed resolution, subsequently adopted by consensus, on the Revised Management Scheme.
But Australia has now turned an important corner by informing the Commission
in no uncertain terms that it will not engage in any debate on the Revised
Management Scheme, as this would be in direct contradiction to its stated
policy of opposition to all commercial whaling, no matter what the restrictions
and conditions.
New Zealand pointed out in its opening statement that it is «willing
to consider a conservative regime as long as it does not open the door
to a possible resumption of commercial whaling». The UK does «not
believe that there is justification for any whaling to take place, other
than some subsistence whaling by indigenous peoples», but is nevertheless
willing to enter into discussions on the specifics of a proposed compromise
from the Irish Commissioner. The same is true of the US, the Netherlands
and some others.
But Australia has chosen to come right out of the closet and opt for consistency
in its position. No discussion. No debate. No whaling.
The Harpoon admits that Australia can no longer be accused of trying
to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes (read: «duplicity»)
on its role in the IWC. But with this now made perfectly clear, we await
Australia’s final act of good faith — withdrawal from the IWC.