Australia to oppose Japan's whaling plan

The federal government says it would be premature to take Japan back to court over the possible resumption of whaling in the Southern Ocean.

The International Whaling Commission is reviewing a Japanese proposal for a 12-year scientific program to catch 333 Antarctic minke whales each year for research involving lethal and non-lethal means.

Government minister Simon Birmingham has told a Senate estimates hearing in Canberra it would be premature to consider another challenge in the International Court of Justice because the proposal is hypothetical.