It is an election year. Need I say more! And suddenly whales are on the Government's agenda. Kevin Rudd took to the 07 election, the promise to clamp down on Japanese whaling in the Antarctic. However during his time in office until now, the closest he got to Japan on the issue of whaling was, 'an agreement to disagree'. However despite this recent, very strong threat to Japan to take them to the International Court of Justice, effective action is unlikely to be taken.
With Tony Abbott creeping up in the polls, a dead ETS and Peter Garret about to fall of his political perch, this is not a safe time for the Labor Government. Rudd and Labor have the election this year in their sights (along with the opposition as well), and so they need to polish up their record of election promises. Hence, enter stage right, whales!
The Rudd government's inaction about Japan's whaling just outside of Australian waters and in the Antarctic is a 'small matter' that they want to easily fix. When it comes to an election, having the public faithfully believe that you are going to deliver on said promises is critical. As such, whaling is an unfulfilled promise that the Labor government is trying to quickly resolve (or appear to resolve), so it's fresh in the back of the minds in the public when the election really heats up. Delivering on promises about stopping Japan whaling is not going to be the hot election issue of the year. Instead, the government is hoping to use it as a platform to build up credibility. It's just ticking off the check list, so to speak.
Delivering on foreign policy right before an election is never advisable. Foreign policy is a slow, fickle process that can't easily be wrapped up by the time an election is to be called. However, appearing to be active and effective in implementing foreign policy, is relatively easy. Rudd is threatening to take Japan to the ICJ (International Court of Justice) in the next whaling season if it doesn't promise to stop whaling in the Southern Ocean. Firstly, getting to the ICJ and getting a ruling against Japan is a slow and difficult process (something that is going to take more than a year). Even if ruled against, Japan will still not adhere to the ruling (as all rulings by the ICJ are non binding - hooray to the effectiveness of international justice!). But secondly, Japan might win the case and increase whaling, or just as worse, loose, then walk out of the International moratorium on whaling altogether, allowing Japan to whale whatever, and whenever it pleases them. Taking Japan to the ICJ is a risky business, and one that could go horribly wrong just before an election
However Kevin Rudd's strong new rhetoric about taking Japan to the ICJ is not about stopping whaling, it's about appearing to be stopping whaling. The very process of filling out the paperwork, sending diplomats to Japan and the Hague, as well as Australia's Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, meeting up with Japan's Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada in Perth is enough. In an election, appearance is everything, and this is no exception. Whales are not the issue here, the election and appearance of being active is!
Kevin Rudd has been criticised for almost everything; pushing legislation through parliament too fast, being the political spin doctor, not spinning and being able to sell the ETS, not being able to manage the economy, being too concerned about the economy....etc. Politician's can never get every promise and piece of legislation they want through parliament just as they want it be. However, what differentiates a good politician from the rest, is not how grandiose their promises are, but how effective they are within office, dealing with legislation and all the other hurdles that come their way. Pity its called hindsight.
With Tony Abbott creeping up in the polls, a dead ETS and Peter Garret about to fall of his political perch, this is not a safe time for the Labor Government. Rudd and Labor have the election this year in their sights (along with the opposition as well), and so they need to polish up their record of election promises. Hence, enter stage right, whales!
The Rudd government's inaction about Japan's whaling just outside of Australian waters and in the Antarctic is a 'small matter' that they want to easily fix. When it comes to an election, having the public faithfully believe that you are going to deliver on said promises is critical. As such, whaling is an unfulfilled promise that the Labor government is trying to quickly resolve (or appear to resolve), so it's fresh in the back of the minds in the public when the election really heats up. Delivering on promises about stopping Japan whaling is not going to be the hot election issue of the year. Instead, the government is hoping to use it as a platform to build up credibility. It's just ticking off the check list, so to speak.
Delivering on foreign policy right before an election is never advisable. Foreign policy is a slow, fickle process that can't easily be wrapped up by the time an election is to be called. However, appearing to be active and effective in implementing foreign policy, is relatively easy. Rudd is threatening to take Japan to the ICJ (International Court of Justice) in the next whaling season if it doesn't promise to stop whaling in the Southern Ocean. Firstly, getting to the ICJ and getting a ruling against Japan is a slow and difficult process (something that is going to take more than a year). Even if ruled against, Japan will still not adhere to the ruling (as all rulings by the ICJ are non binding - hooray to the effectiveness of international justice!). But secondly, Japan might win the case and increase whaling, or just as worse, loose, then walk out of the International moratorium on whaling altogether, allowing Japan to whale whatever, and whenever it pleases them. Taking Japan to the ICJ is a risky business, and one that could go horribly wrong just before an election
However Kevin Rudd's strong new rhetoric about taking Japan to the ICJ is not about stopping whaling, it's about appearing to be stopping whaling. The very process of filling out the paperwork, sending diplomats to Japan and the Hague, as well as Australia's Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, meeting up with Japan's Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada in Perth is enough. In an election, appearance is everything, and this is no exception. Whales are not the issue here, the election and appearance of being active is!
Kevin Rudd has been criticised for almost everything; pushing legislation through parliament too fast, being the political spin doctor, not spinning and being able to sell the ETS, not being able to manage the economy, being too concerned about the economy....etc. Politician's can never get every promise and piece of legislation they want through parliament just as they want it be. However, what differentiates a good politician from the rest, is not how grandiose their promises are, but how effective they are within office, dealing with legislation and all the other hurdles that come their way. Pity its called hindsight.
LINKS:
Rudd issues whaling court action deadline - ABC online
