With news of another clash in the Southern Ocean, it is apparent that Minister Hunt’s broken promise to send a Customs Vessel has allowed the Japanese to get away with whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary and to ramp up its aggression against the Sea Shepherd crews.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, "the new aggressive tactics used by the Japanese whaling fleet has dramatically raised the stakes to unprecendented levels of danger.

Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, Greens spokesperson for whaling, said today that in the wake of the horrific images of whales being slaughtered in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary Environment Minister Greg Hunt must demand Tony Abbott calls the Japanese Prime Minister in protest.

"After six years of rhetoric from Greg Hunt calling on the previous government to stop the blood in the water in the Southern Ocean it is time for him to act," said Senator Peter Whish-Wilson.

Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, Greens spokesperson for whaling and fisheries, has called on Greg Hunt to resign his ministerial position saying the Environment Minister doesn't have the guts or integrity to stand up for his own convictions, let alone our whales or the environment.

“For the last six years Greg Hunt has been, outside of Greens MPs, this parliament’s biggest anti-whaling activist,” said Senator Peter Whish-Wilson.

Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, Greens spokesperson for whaling and fisheries, calls on Environment Minister Greg Hunt to match the last six years of his rhetoric on whaling with action or consider his position in Cabinet. Minister Hunt had promised by today he'd announce his plans to deal with illegal whaling in the Southern Ocean. Central to this is the question of whether he would send the ACV Ocean Explorer to the Southern Ocean as promised twice in separate coalition whaling and fisheries policies.

This morning, as reports come in that the Japanese whaling fleet has left for the summer hunt, Australian Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson has called on Tony Abbott to honor his government's election commitment to send an Australian Customs vessel to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

"Australia's purpose built Southern Ocean patrol vessel, the ACV Ocean Protector, has been cruising off the coast of Christmas Island thousands of nautical miles from the whale sanctuary," said Senator Peter Whish-Wilson.

Following Minister Hunt’s election commitment to send the ACV Ocean Protector to the Southern Ocean, today Greens whaling spokesperson Senator Peter Whish-Wilson called on Greg Hunt to publicly outline his plan for action in full.

“The Antarctic whaling season is fast approaching and both the Japanese Whaling Fleet and the Sea Shepherd are readying for action,” said Senator Whish-Wilson.

As Greens spokesperson on whaling, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson received a tour of the Sea Shepherd vessel in Hobart today, he took the unusual step of pointing out the areas of agreement with the Environment Minister on whaling policy.

"The Greens agree with the coalition government that Australia must send its purpose-built patrol vessel, the Ocean Protector, to the Southern Ocean this summer. We were surprised that the coalition made this a high-profile election commitment.

The Senate has backed an Australian Greens motion recognising the start of legal action in the International Court of Justice against Japanese whaling and urging the Government to ensure any resources needed to enforce a positive ruling are provided.

"The start of this case is an important day for the decades-old fight against whaling," Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

"The Senate recognised this, supporting the Greens motion and noting that this case will be keenly followed by all those Australians who oppose the continuation of whaling.

The Australian Greens said today that the Japanese Fisheries Minister, Yoshimasa Hayash’s comments on his country’s whaling program have ended any pretence it based on scientific research.

“The Minister’s comments provide an insight into the reality of Japanese whaling, with no mention of science, only the rhetoric of a Government intent on saving face on the international stage as they continue to hunt whales for commercial use,” Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens marine spokesperson said today.

The Australian Greens say the Government must immediately act on further proof that heavy fuel oil has been brought into Australia's EEZ and investigate reports of a leakage from the Korean flagged ship Sun Laurel into pristine Antarctic waters.

"The Sun Laurel is currently in the Australian Antarctic EEZ refuelling whaling ships from the Japanese fleet, blatantly breaching international rules and Australia's clear position that they should leave our waters," Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert, spokesperson on marine issues said today.