Australia urges strong policies to safeguard whales
Updated
Australia's Environment Minister Peter Garrett says he will be strongly urging other International Whaling Commission members to adopt more rigorous conservation policies for whales.
Mr Garrett is leaving today for Chile where he will attend the week-long meeting in Santiago, along with representatives of 80 other countries.
Japan says it may abandon the 86-year old body if coastal whaling is not legalised by the commission.
Mr Garrett says he doesn't expect that reaching a consensus will be a simple process.
He says the numbers are close and the negotiations and discussions have always been difficult and tense.
Votes have been lost in the past and it is not an easy forum to operate in.
But Mr Garrett says Australia is taking a very strong voice and very positive proposals to the commission for the countries to consider.
