The Australian Greens say the Federal Government is threatening WA's iconic Abrolhos Islands by releasing acreage for oil and gas exploration that encroaches on the area.

"The Abrolhos Islands are iconic in WA, they are a unique marine environment with many threatened species and are important to WA fishing industries. These low-lying islands would be devastated by an oil spill," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens marine spokesperson said today.

Colin Barnett's bitter obsession with James Price Point must end, the WA Greens said today.

Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam said the State Government's plan to acquire the land despite huge local opposition to its industrialisation and Woodside's withdrawal was "vindictive and reckless".

"Premier Barnett, please - it's over. This is a pristine part of the Kimberley's coast; it was never appropriate for industrialisation and it never will be. The Premier is now standing in the way of progress. It's time to move on," said Senator Ludlam.

Reports that Woodside is shelving its planned Browse gas project at James Price Point could signal a big win for the Kimberley and the environment alike, the Greens said today.

"These are very encouraging reports and it is important that Woodside and the WA Government announce the decision, if it has been made," Senator Rachel Siewert said.

Woodside and Colin Barnett's plan to wreck James Price Point is looking increasingly obsessive as leading companies turn their backs on obsolete onshore processing, the Greens said today.

Speaking from Broome today Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam said "Shell and Exxon Mobil are pursuing floating LNG projects while Woodside clings to its plan to ruin the pristine coast at James Price Point".

Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens marine spokesperson says the Government must seek an immediate injunction against the Japanese whaling fleet, amid reports they have changed course and are now heading south, presumably to try and recommence whaling.

"Messages from Sea Shepherd indicate the fleet has turned around and is heading back towards the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, after previously heading north out of the region", Senator Siewert said today.

The Australian Greens said today that the Japanese Fisheries Minister, Yoshimasa Hayash’s comments on his country’s whaling program have ended any pretence it based on scientific research.

“The Minister’s comments provide an insight into the reality of Japanese whaling, with no mention of science, only the rhetoric of a Government intent on saving face on the international stage as they continue to hunt whales for commercial use,” Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens marine spokesperson said today.

The Senate has backed an Australian Greens motion calling for the Government to dispatch a monitoring vessel to observe ongoing whaling activities in our Antarctic territory, as videos emerge showing the extremely dangerous nature of the clashes taking place in Antarctic waters.

"It must be an absolute priority for the Government to act in response to today's motion in the Senate, which calls for urgent action to be taken as the dangerous and unpredictable action of whalers continues," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens marine spokesperson said today.

The Australian Greens condemn the actions of Japanese whaling ships ramming the Sea Shepherd vessel the Bob Barker.

"These violent and dangerous actions that risk lives at sea are outrageous and totally unacceptable" Leader of the Greens Senator Christine Milne said.

"I call on the Government to act swiftly to condemn this violence, and send a naval vessel down to monitor the situation."

The Australian Greens say the Government must immediately act on further proof that heavy fuel oil has been brought into Australia's EEZ and investigate reports of a leakage from the Korean flagged ship Sun Laurel into pristine Antarctic waters.

"The Sun Laurel is currently in the Australian Antarctic EEZ refuelling whaling ships from the Japanese fleet, blatantly breaching international rules and Australia's clear position that they should leave our waters," Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert, spokesperson on marine issues said today.

The Federal Government must act immediately and order the Korean flagged vessel Sun Laurel out of Australian waters, the Australian Greens said this morning.

"This vessel is reported to be refueling the Japanese whaling fleet in Australian waters. This is an illegal operation, it contravenes the MARPOL Convention. The Government must act decisively to stop the operations of these vessels in our waters," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens marine spokesperson said today.