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CANBERRA - Labour's environment spokesman Peter Garrett says the only way the federal government monitors whaling by Japanese ships is by asking the Japanese what's happening.
That was like asking a burglar to list what they've stolen, he said.
The issue was raised at a Senate estimates hearing, when environment department officials were asked how they knew what was happening in Australia's declared whale sanctuary off Antarctica.
Mr Garrett said the hearing was told the government received information from the International Whaling Commission (IWC), relying on data provided by Japan.
"That's like asking a burglar for a list of stolen goods," Mr Garrett said in a statement.
"The Howard government refuses to send surveillance vessels to the Southern Ocean, arguing no useful purpose would be served.
"Apparently, monitoring illegal activities in Australian waters is not useful."
Mr Garrett accused the government of merely mouthing platitudes this week while ugly confrontations between protester ships and whalers occurred on the high seas.
"The actions of (protest group) Sea Shepherd were irresponsible. It should never fall to non-government organisations to enforce Australian law," he said.
"Just as irresponsible is Japan's expanded slaughter of whales under a flimsy scientific pretext, and its attempts to re-commercialise the whaling industry.
"Protecting whales and preserving our A$300 million whale-watching industry requires more than Howard government platitudes."
He said a Labour government would use the international courts to stop whaling for all time.
- AAP
