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O 220350Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2555
INFO RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 2175
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 1328
RUEHRK/AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK 0201
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3806
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0226
RUEHBN/AMCONSUL MELBOURNE 6922
RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH 5189
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 5198
RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CANBERRA 000055 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR OES/OA BALTON, PHELPS, EAP/FO REED, COMMERCE 
FOR NOAA MEDINA, DEMASTER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2020 
TAGS: SENV EFIS PREL AS
SUBJECT: WHALING: AUSTRALIA TO STICK WITH NEGOTIATIONS 
 
REF: A. CANBERRA 28 
     ¶B. 09 CANBERRA 1099 
 
Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor Edgard Kagan, Reasons 1.4(b)(d). 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  Australian negotiators will continue to 
work towards a deal in the IWC on whaling.  Despite 
aggressive rhetoric by the Japanese, the GOA wants to keep 
its cool and reach a consensus on a package before the IWC 
meetings in June.  The Department of Foreign Affairs and 
Trade (DFAT) and Special Envoy Sandy Hollway see recent 
Japanese actions as logical - if frustrating - strategies in 
a tough negotiation.  Department of Environment, Water 
Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) officials do not see current 
situation as a good indicator of progress.  PM Rudd and a 
select group of Ministers are planning to meet on January 23 
to discuss policy on whaling.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Econoff met with Paula Watt, Director of the Marine 
Environment Section at DFAT, on January 21.  Watt, who was 
part of the group briefed by U.S. Commissioner Medina on 
January 20, said the full Cabinet did not discuss whaling as 
planned, but that PM Rudd and a small group of Ministers 
(likely including Ministers Smith and Garrett) would discuss 
the issue on January 23 before the negotiating team heads to 
Honolulu for the next round of talks. 
 
GOA KEEPING ITS COOL 
-------------------- 
 
¶3. (C/NF) Watt said that DEWHA was "shaken" by recent moves 
in Japan, Iceland and Norway that are out of step with the 
consensus agreed to in Santiago last year.  At the same time, 
DFAT and Hollway have been tasked to negotiate an agreement 
by the next IWC meetings.  Watt is confident that the 
engagement strategy is supported at the top.  Watt confided 
that recent actions, including Japan's effort to slow the 
scientific assessment group process -- by submitting a "trial 
paper" that argued for a very high level of sustainable 
kills, are tough tactics that they would expect Japan to use 
in this kind of negotiation. 
 
WITH NUMBERS, A DEAL MORE LIKELY? 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (C/NF) For a deal to be acceptable in Australia, Watt said 
it would have to include at a minimum a significant number of 
whales -- she suggested 5,000 -- saved over a ten-year 
period, the removal of Fins and Humpbacks from the schedule, 
and no loopholes allowing scientific permits to be issued 
under the IWC beyond the limits set in the schedule.  The 
number believed to be on the table in Tokyo of around 400 
Minke whales per year for the Southern Ocean would be 
"significantly less" than the number actually killed, which 
Watt suggested would be a crucial selling point.  DEWHA's 
Peter Commenar told Econoff January 21 that the range of 
proposed Japanese numbers would be very tough for Australians 
to accept and that recent steps by Japan, Iceland and Norway 
were an attempt to "wear down" the anti-whaling nations so 
that they will accept a poor deal. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Watt, Hollway, and DFAT Assistant Secretary for 
International Legal Affairs Greg French will travel to 
Honolulu on February 24.  In a separate discussion with 
Pol/Econ Counselor, French said the fact that he is going 
signals that DFAT believes progress is possible and someone 
Qsignals that DFAT believes progress is possible and someone 
with his legal background could be needed.  His previous 
experience with the issue will further strengthen the 
negotiating team. 
 
WATER OFF A WHALE'S BACK 
------------------------ 
 
¶6. (C/NF) Watt said that Japanese Diet Foreign Affairs 
Committee Chair Muneo Suzuki's suggestion that Japan use the 
proposed Australia-Japan Access and Cross Servicing Agreement 
as leverage to protect Japanese whaling,  though not helpful, 
was unlikely to provoke an Australian response.  The GOA 
senior leadership's goal is to remain cool, keep the issue 
 
CANBERRA 00000055  002 OF 002 
 
 
contained within the bilateral relationship, and continue to 
work toward a resolution.  Regardless, the Opposition under 
Tony Abbott will attack Rudd of mishandling Australia's key 
relationships over issues like whaling in the upcoming 
election campaign. 
 
¶7. (C/NF) Comment: The recent dust-up over numbers, tactics, 
and possible escalation by whaling nations outside of the 
ongoing negotiations appears to have strengthened the GOA's 
focus on negotiating a deal.  Australian leadership has not 
commented on possible legal action since the news cycle 
around the early January collision between whalers and a Sea 
Shepherd vessel.  Environment Minister Garrett, after 
presenting the GOA's initial response to the collision, has 
not spoken in public on whaling.  Watt's comments indicate 
that, after overcoming some objections within their ranks, 
Australian negotiators could get PM Rudd's support for a deal 
with the right conditions.  End Summary. 
 
BLEICH