Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown spoke to the media about the three Western Australian activists aboard the Shonan Maru II whaling ship, and the Gillard government's failure to prevent the Japanese fleet from conducting whaling operations in the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary.

The Gillard government’s failure to do anything at all about this summer’s illegal Japanese whaling in Australia’s Antarctic waters leaves the Prime Minister’s admonition of three whaling activists looking insipid, Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown said in Hobart today.

“It’s a good thing that the Southern Ocean patrol ship ‘Ocean Protector’ is going to pick these three brave Australians off the Shonan Maru II, but the ship should then be allowed to live up to its name and move on to the Antarctic whaling arena.  

Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown says the Greens will bring a bill into parliament requiring a patrol vessel to be sent to monitor any whaling activity in Australian waters or whale sanctuaries.

Australian Greens Leader Senator bob Brown spoke to the media about the three Australian activists detained on the Japanese whaling ship Shonan Maru 2, and the Greens' proposal for legislation to require a patrol vessel to be sent to monitor any whaling activity in Australian waters or whale sanctuaries.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard should contact the Japanese Prime Minister to secure the release of three Australians being detained aboard a Japanese whaling vessel, Greens marine spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert told a media conference in Perth today.

The protesters from Forest Rescue Australia are being held off the coast of Bunbury aboard the Shonan Maru 2.

The Australian Greens have called on the Federal Government to ask Japan to remove is vessels from the Australian Whale Sanctuary, and to cease shadowing the Sea Shepherd vessel Steve Irwin.

After meeting Sea Shepherd Captain Paul Watson in Fremantle today, Australian Greens Senators Rachel Siewert and Scott Ludlam said the presence of any Japanese vessels in the sanctuary was an unwelcome intrusion.

With the Steve Irwin now escorting the damaged Brigitte Bardot back to port, leaving the Bob Barker the only vessel still attempting to stop the whaling fleet, the Gillard Government must urgently send an observer to the area, the Australian Greens said today.

"If Tony Burke is concerned about safety in the Southern Ocean, as well as protecting whales in the sanctuary, he should immediately send an observer ship to the area," Australian Greens Acting Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

With heightened risks of violence in the Southern Ocean, the Government must immediately send a ship to observe the whaling fleet, the Australian Greens said today.

"With a drone reporting that people in paramilitary uniforms have been seen on the decks of Japanese whaling ships, Australlia needs a strong presence in the Southern Ocean to help head off violent clashes," Australian Greens Acting Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said today.

"Legal action is not enough in these circumstances. We need a presence in the area.

What a year to be Green!

Right from the start, 2011 has been a year of victory for the planet and for a more compassionate, equal Australia. Together we have achieved great things!

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown spoke to reporters in Hobart on Saturday about the climate talks in Durban, the clear-felling of the intergovernmental agreement that was meant to protect Tasmania's grand forests, Sea Shepherd, and tourism in Tasmania.