Do the Australian Federal Police answer to Australia or Japan?

By Patsy Crawford

This was an editorial in the Sunday Tasmanian of 1 March 2009.

"It seems only a short while back the Federal Government couldn't state its anti-whaling credentials too fervently.

"Australia would track whale hunters across the seven seas. No killing on our watch, cried a bevy of Government ministers.

"So what happened to those fine words when Australian Federal Police dashed sturdily onto the good ship 'Steve Irwin' last weekend, and, at the behest of Japanese authorities, hauled away written records and videos of whale slaughter?

"The Captain of Japanese vessel 'Yushin Maru No. 3' claims it was rammed.

"The 'Steve Irwin' captain Paul Watson says that if anyone wants to bring charges against him and his crew, that's fine by him.

"The Home Affairs Department has trotted out the feeble excuse it can't respond because the matter is in the hands of the AFP.

"The people of Hobart did a bit of responding of their own, lining up in droves to inspect the 'Steve Irwin' and donate to its cause.

"It beggars belief to think there are countries still clinging to a cruel, outmoded practice that should have been knocked on the head along

with Captain Ahab years ago".

See also: "What whales? Ruddbot's shame" by in the Brisbane Times of 24 Feb 09, "Who called the cops?" by Mark Worley in the Mercury of 22 Feb 09, "Is Kevin Rudd the Neville Chamberlain of Conservation?" by Captain Paul Watson on 28 Jan 09.