Australian navy may soon track Japanese whalers

DENPASAR - Australian navy vessels could be deployed to track Japanese whalers as early as next week to gather evidence for a possible international legal battle.

Labor raised the idea of using the navy to search for evidence of illegal whaling in Australian waters before last month's election.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd yesterday said he would make an announcement next week on what action the government will take as the whaling season gets underway.

Mr Rudd said: "We take seriously Australia's international obligations on the proper protection of whales.

"We have said in the past that we would look at measures which would fortify any future case to be brought before international legal tribunals on the implementation of Japan's whaling policy, in particular Japan's assertion that these are for research purposes and not for commercial purposes.

"And we are therefore actively considering the appropriate measures for the collection of data which could assist in any future legal case which the government may embark upon.

"On those matters we'll have further to say during next week."

Mr Rudd would not say whether naval ships were already preparing to leave.

- AAP