PETER GARRETT ON WHALING, CLIMATE CHANGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CANBERRA 000744 NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR OES/EGC, OES/OA PHELPS, COMMERCE PLEASE PASS NOAA, WHITE HOUSE FOR CEQ E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/14/2019 TAGS: SENV KGHG EFIS PGOV AS SUBJECT: PETER GARRETT ON WHALING, CLIMATE CHANGE REF: A. CANBERRA 574 ¶B. CANBERRA 732 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Daniel A. Clune, Reasons 1.4(b)(d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Environment, Culture, Heritage and Arts Minister Peter Garrett is cautiously optimistic that progress can be made with Japan on Southern Ocean whaling. Garrett again extended an offer to have U.S. marine researchers join the Southern Ocean science program announced last year. Encouraged by the pace of action on climate change in Washington, Garrett believes that the Copenhagen UNFCCC talks will be a success. In Garrett's view, the Opposition will defeat climate change legislation this week but give in and pass the legislation in November. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) The Charge hosted Environment, Culture, Heritage and Arts Minister Peter Garrett for breakfast on August 11. Garrett, returning to Canberra after the winter parliamentary recess, shared his views on whaling, climate change, and domestic political pressure on the opposition in a wide-ranging and friendly discussion, and sought closer engagement with the U.S. in developing strategies to address these issues. WHALING -------------- ¶3. (C/NF) On whaling, Garrett said he was cautiously optimistic that there is room for some progress with Japan over the next twelve months. Recognizing the distance between both sides' positions, Garrett believes dealing with the issue on a scientific basis and not as a moral or sovereignty issue holds promise, as it could avoid further "nationalist" responses. Garrett said that he personally did not support negotiation of a "deal" with the GOJ in which they were permitted to conduct coastal whaling, especially if it did not result in the cessation of whaling in the Southern Ocean. Garrett said he was personally more committed to ending whaling than the foreign affairs experts negotiating with Japan, and that Australia believed recent USG statements on whaling were "crucial." Garrett again formally extended an offer (first made to the Secretary on the margins of the Arctic Treaty Consultative Meetings in April) to include U.S. researchers in non-lethal Southern Ocean Research Partnership funded by the Australian and New Zealand governments (ref A). Garrett said that he believes the likely DPJ victory in the upcoming election is an opportunity to impress upon new leadership that this is a chance to break with the policies of the past and reset the GOJ view on whaling as a science and sustainable use issue. Garrett did not discuss the possibility of legal action against Japan, but said that he felt the next twelve months were the window of opportunity to engage positively on whaling. CLIMATE CHANGE -------------- ¶4. (C/NF) Although Garrett does not handle climate change for the GOA, he pressed the Charge for views on the progress at the Copenhagen talks. Charge Clune reviewed the points A/S Campbell made on August 7 in Cairns and noted the strong possibility of passage of domestic legislation in Congress by the end of the year. Garrett agreed that there was a good chance for progress but expressed concern that Copenhagen was too important to fail. He added that domestic support for a future climate deal could wane if it was not sufficiently ambitious. Garrett then turned to domestic climate change Qambitious. Garrett then turned to domestic climate change legislation in Australia (ref B),saying the Opposition would defeat the legislation this week but could not afford to do so again this year. He confirmed that the double dissolution threat was real, and that he knows Opposition Leader Turnbull well as they share an electoral boundary. Garrett felt he had understood Turnbull's strategy at one point, but events since June, and in particular the posturing of the last few days had left him "unsure of what Malcolm is doing." Garrett said he believed there were potential problems trying to link separate trading schemes in Australia, the U.S. and Europe if they could not deliver sufficient assurance on verifiable emissions reductions. ¶5. (C/NF) Comment: Garrett, who has been under fire from CANBERRA 00000744 002 OF 002 green groups for his decisions on environmental approval of controversial investments like the 4-Mile uranium mine, appeared relaxed and in command on the range of issues in his portfolio. While there has been some speculation that he could lose some or all of his portfolio if a cabinet reshuffle takes place later this year, he is the most famous face in a Cabinet full of long-service ALP politicos, and does not seem concerned about his future prospects. His views on whaling offer a contrast to the views held by the Department of Foreign Affairs, where there is more pessimism about the incoming Japanese government and the possibility of successful engagement. End Comment. Clune