Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown has received a letter from Environment Minister Peter Garrett in response to his call for the government to send a surveillance vessel to monitor the whaling season in the Southern Ocean and has responded today as follows:

Dear Peter

Thank you for your letter of 23 December 2009.

The responsibility for safety in the protests over whaling rests with three parties: the Japanese whalers, the protestors, and the Australian Government. The responsibility of the latter extends to being present at the whale slaughter in Australia's Antarctic waters.

Reference to surveillance done years ago is no substitute for action now. The Australian Government is to be condemned for not having a presence at the whale slaughter and you will be aware of the many requests to the government on that score.

The wan talk of legal action if diplomacy does not succeed is tiresome and a cop-out. What is your deadline for such action?

Yours Sincerely

Senator Bob Brown

A copy of the letter from Minister Garrett is available on request.

Media contact: Peter Stahel 0433 005 727