Australian gov't continues diplomacy on whaling

CANBERRA, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Australian officials continue to press the Japanese government on the issue of whaling in the Southern Ocean, Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard said on Friday.

The damaged powerboat Ady Gil, which belongs to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, floats near the Japanese ship Shonan Maru No. 2 after a collision between the two vessels in the Southern Ocean January 6, 2010. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Gillard said the Australian Embassy in Japan has told the Japanese government its "very strong concerns," including those about sending chartered flights to monitor anti-whaling activists.

"Our embassy in Tokyo is making high-level representations to the Japanese government," she said.

"They have passed to the Japanese government our very strong concerns about the question of flights being chartered, potentially in Australia, to monitor the activity of protest vessels."

"They have passed on our very strong concerns about conduct on the high seas and of course we continue to make it very clear, our view about whaling."

"When we receive that advice, if there has been any breach of Australian law then we want that breach prosecuted," she said.