Australia Reshaping Whaling Commission

2 June 2008.

Angela Saurine from Sydney's Daily Telegraph reported today;

AUSTRALIA will lead the way in transforming the International Whaling Commission from an organisation that counts how many whales are killed to one focusing on research and conservation.

Environment Minister Peter Garrett said he will take the most significant and positive reform any country has ever proposed to the IWC annual meeting in Chile later this month.

"Australia is going to lead that new approach, which I think is absolutely necessary," he said.

"There's a number of nations that have attended the IWC in the past who have been associated with the pro-whaling cause.

"We want to convince them that there's a much better, more productive and in the long-term environmentally and economically beneficial way of interacting with these extraordinarily beautiful creatures."

Mr Garrett wants the commission to have rigorous scientific evaluation criteria and develop conservation management plans for whales.

He also wants Australia to work closely with other countries in non-lethal research.

He refused to comment on speculation Olympian and environmental advocate Ian Thorpe would be chosen as envoy to travel to Chile.

Mr Garrett yesterday spotted two pods during a whale watching cruise off Sydney's coast on the first day of the official migration season as whales head north to feed and give birth.