CONSERVATIONISTS will seek an injunction against a Japanese company to stop it slaughtering whales in Australian waters after a successful appeal in the Federal Court.Humane Society International (HSI) has been fighting in the Federal Court to prevent the company, Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha Ltd, hunting whales in Australian protected waters near Antarctica.HSI estimates the company has killed well over 850 minke whales within the Australian Whale Sanctuary since 2000, with the conservation group launching legal action in 2004.But in May last year Justice James Allsop refused the group permission to proceed with the case, after federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock raised concerns it could spark a diplomatic incident between Australian and Japan.But today the full bench of the Federal Court overturned that decision by a majority of two to one.
