It is Japanese whalers who should be facing charges under Australian law for endangering lives, not Sea Shepherd captain Pete Bethune said Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown.

"It is absolutely unjust that Captain Pete Bethune is facing up to 15 years in prison in Japan," said Senator Brown."Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Foreign Minister Stephen Smith cannot remain silent on this case any longer.

"The Australian Federal Police are investigating an official complaint by Sea Shepherd regarding the ramming and sinking of the Ady Gil by Japanese whaling vessel Shonan Maru 2.

Australia must act to ensure Japanese whalers are prosecuted for actions in the Southern Ocean said Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown today following the launch of an international legal challenge by Sea Shepherd.Lawyers acting for Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson have made an official complaint to the Australian Federal Police calling for the prosecution of the captain of the Shonan Maru 2 which rammed and sunk the Sea Shepherd boat the Ady Gil.

Under Australian law, the Shonan Maru 2 captain could be tried in Australia and face life imprisonment for his actions.

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia) (3.44 pm)—I move: That the Senate calls on the Government to investigate, through the processes of the International Whaling Commission, the recent claims by Greenpea and the ‘Tokyo Two’ Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki of corruption and embezzlement within the whaling industry. Question negatived.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown has again called on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to intervene on behalf of captive Sea Shepherd captain Pete Bethune who has been captive onboard on Japanese whaler since last month.

According to news reports, Captain Bethune was arrested by Japanese authorities when the Shonan Maru 2 arrived back in Tokyo today.

"Captain Bethune was arrested defending whales in the Southern Ocean and Australian waters and the Prime Minister should intervene on his behalf," said Senator Brown.

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia) (4.40 pm)—I move: That the Senate—

(a) recognises the Australian community’s strong interest in the issue of illegal whaling;
(b) acknowledges the Government’s stated interest in pursuing legal action on this issue; and
(c) requests that the Australian Government send an embassy observer to the trial of Greenpeace activists Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki, who are on trial in Japan for their role in exposing corruption in the government-funded whaling industry.

The Australian Federal Police search warrant used to raid the Sea Shepherd's Steve Irwin when it docked in Hobart this morning alleges breaches of Australian law, not Japanese law, Greens Leader Bob Brown told the welcoming crowd that had gathered to greet the ship.
"The spineless Rudd government has laid charges, including throwing of rancid butter, but the Shonan Maru 2's ‘sinking' of the whale-protection boat Ady Gil, threatening the lives of six crew members, is not mentioned," Senator Brown said.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown believes at least five federal police officers have boarded the Sea Shepherd's anti-whaling ship the Steve Irwin when it docked at Hobart at 8.30am today. Senator Brown said he had been informed by the Australian Federal Police that they are executing a search warrant at the request of Japanese authorities in Tokyo. "This is outrageous that Australian police are at the disposal of the Japanese whale killers," Senator Brown said.

Greens Leader Bob Brown has invited the Environment Minister Peter Garrett, and opposition environment spokesperson Greg Hunt to come to Hobart for the return of the Sea Shepherd's ships the Steve Irwin and Bob Barker this Saturday morning.

Senator Brown said both men were welcome to speak at the public reception that will be held at the Long Gallery in Salamanca Place between 12.00 and 13.00 on Sunday 7 March.