Greens spokesperson for Healthy Oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, provides the following comments on the release of the Senate inquiry report (link here) into the “Current and future impacts of climate change on marine fisheries and biodiversity.” Senator Whish-Wilson instigated the Inquiry after a recent marine heatwave devastated fisheries and biodiversity off the coast of Tasmania.

Greens spokesperson for Healthy Oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, welcomes the release of the Australian Government footage obtained under Freedom of Information request by Sea Shepherd.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, “This footage lays bare the brutality that is whaling. These whales are being killed and die slowly and in pain, sometimes drowning in their own blood. This slaughter happens for no legitimate reason and should be condemned.

Greens spokesperson for Healthy Oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, has called bullshit on Tony Abbott’s continued climate change denialism saying that every time he opens his mouth he deliberately insults the world class efforts of Australia’s climate science community.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, “Almost half the Great Barrier Reef is dead from mass coral bleaching, summer after summer we have unprecedented heatwaves and bushfire risk, and yet Australia’s worst ever Prime Minister wants to further diminish this country by using his platform to promote climate change denialism.

On behalf of the Australian Greens, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, who is attending today's ceremony, welcomes the return of Kings Run to Aboriginal ownership and congratulates everyone involved.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, “The return of Kings Run to Aboriginal ownership and management is an exceptional achievement on so many levels. Not only does it provide an example of what meaningful redress for two centuries of dispossession for local Aboriginal people can look like, but also has achieved enduring protection for land of incredible natural and cultural heritage values.

Australian Greens Spokesperson for Healthy Oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, has travelled to Japan in a private capacity to meet with Japanese MPs, stakeholder groups, and the press gallery to discuss whaling in the Southern Ocean.

"Japan recently passed some legislation, effectively legalising their whaling efforts and providing more resources for whaling, including unfortunately potentially providing military assistance with their fleet as they go to the Southern Ocean."

Senator WHISH-WILSON (Tasmania) (19:50): I want to do a shout out tonight—a big shout out—to scientists, especially the world's global climate scientists.

Greens spokesperson for Healthy Oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson thanks the volunteers and professionals who helped save the juvenile great white shark "Fluffy" at Manly and warns that Fluffy may fall foul of the NSW shark nets upon release. 

Senator Whish-Wilson said, "Well done and thanks to the community and volunteers from the Manly Sea Life Sanctuary who helped save a protected stranded juvenile great white shark nicknamed “Fluffy” on Manly beach yesterday.

Greens spokesperson for Healthy Oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, provides the following comments on the decision by Sea Shepherd to pull out from their Southern Ocean mission to protect whales from slaughter.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, “Make no mistake, thousands of whales are alive today because of the efforts of Sea Shepherd putting themselves in front of harpoons in the Southern Ocean.

“Only recently it has been reported that whale numbers have rebounded and Sea Shepherd can take some of the credit for this.