Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

NZ taxpayers to fund commercial whaling

New Zealand and Australian taxpayers to fund commercial whaling

In a proposal being drawn up for the International Whaling Commission (IWC), New Zealand and Australian taxpayers may have to pay for a return to commercial whaling.

The proposal would legitimise commercial whaling and even allow hunting to continue in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

Instead of following a “user pays” principle, which would see the whaling nations - Japan, Norway and Iceland - bear the cost for management and supervision of the whaling industry, under the proposal, all countries party to the International Whaling Commission will foot the bill.

“It is bad enough to try to sell this appalling deal to New Zealanders, but it’s a complete insult to ask them to pay for it as well,” said Philippa Brakes from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society.

The Australian Government is known to be deeply unhappy with the proposal which would include bringing back legal commercial whaling but the New Zealand Government and its IWC Commissioner, Sir Geoffrey Palmer, are promoting it.

The Australian Government has issued a counter proposal which includes phasing out whaling in the Southern Ocean over five years. Australia’s proposal has not received the support of the New Zealand Government

“The so-called compromise package, being hailed by New Zealand as a breakthrough, appears to reward whaling countries for years of ignoring the global moratorium on commercial whaling and now presents them with commercial whaling quotas tied up with a ribbon,” said Erica Martin from IFAW.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“Australians and New Zealanders are united in their opposition to commercial whaling — they will never accept this deal let alone pay for it,” said Nicola Beynon from Humane Society International.

“In their haste to resolve the impasse in the IWC, New Zealand could end up supporting a deal that in fact takes us back to the grim days of commercial whaling that drove many species to the brink of extinction last century. New Zealand must stand with its traditional whale conservation allies such as Australia if there's to be any chance of achieving a future that's good for the whales," said Greenpeace New Zealand Oceans Campaigner Karli Thomas.

Greenpeace, Humane Society International, IFAW (the International Fund for Animal Welfare), Project Jonah, Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, World Society for the Protection of Animals and Whales Alive are all calling on the New Zealand Government not to betray the anti-whaling New Zealand electorate, nor their friends in Australia, and have an urgent re-think of any compromises that will undermine their long standing opposition to commercial whaling.

Firm proposals for the new whaling deal will be put forward by 22 April to be voted on at the International Whaling Commission meeting in Morocco in June 2010.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.