Tony Burke, the minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry and the federal member for Watson, has said that Australia would not alter its tough stance on the issue of commercial whaling in wake of Japan’s recent tsunami misfortune.

Speaking at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in the Channel Islands, Burke said that Australia’s humanitarian response to the tsunami disaster and its opposition to commercial whaling were two separate issues.

Burke’s comments came at a time when Japan trying hard to convince other countries to support commercial whaling practices in the North Pacific Ocean.

In an interview with ABC Radio, Burke said, "I think the situation that Japan finds itself in brings about a strong argument for people to have a humanitarian response. That's about looking after the Japanese people and has nothing at all to do with commercial whaling."

The IWC is to debate ways to boost transparency and battle alleged corruption within its ranks as the 89-nation organization was rocked last year by accusations that Japan greased palms of Caribbean and African countries to get votes in favor of commercial whaling.

Conservation groups are also urging member nations to ignore Japan’s appeal to resume small-scale commercial whaling off its coast.