[Sir Francis Dashwood]

It’s not irrelevant that the Japanese ship is there in violation of Australian law,...

Australia does not have a navy?

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...putting them in violation of International Whaling Commission rules.

I don't recognize the authority of "international law." There is no such thing.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Yes, Australia does have a navy, as well as customs enforcement vessels -- one of which is now on the way to pick up the Sea Shepherd activists and RETURN THEM TO THEIR OWN VESSEL. This says to me that the Sea Shepherders' activities are endorsed by the Australian government.

Australia to Pick Up Whaling Activists

(excerpt) The protesters from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society scored a victory with their stunt, bringing Japan's whale hunt to a standstill while officials scrambled to resolve the faceoff. The Australian customs ship Oceanic Viking will pick up the two activists, an Australian and a Briton, and return them to their anti-whaling vessel as soon as the details can be arranged, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said. The offer came at the request of the Japanese government, and the head of the activist group said he agreed to the transfer as long as there were no conditions requiring him to stop harassing the whalers.