Acting Foreign Minster Craig Emerson

Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said Japan's counter-memorial Louis Vuitton handbags contained detailed arguments in response to Australia's memorial filed in May last year.

She said the response would be carefully considered.In coming weeks, the ICJ, in consultation with Australia and Japan, will set a timeline for the next steps, which which may include a second round of written submissions.

Written pleadings remain confidential until the court orders their public release, likely to occur at the first oral hearing. No date for that has been set.

"We condemn all commercial whaling, including Japan's so-called scientific whaling," Ms Roxon said in a statement.

"The government considers that Japan's whaling is contrary to Japan's international legal obligations, including the global prohibition on commercial whaling, and should stop."

Environment Minister Tony Burke said the goal of ending Japan's illegal whaling in the Southern Ocean was one step closer.

Japan has ended its current whaling season with catches of just 266 whales, far short of the quota. Japan attributed that to bad weather while the Sea Shepherd organisation attributed it to their disruption.

Acting Foreign Minster Craig Emerson said the ICJ was the appropriate forum to resolve Australia's whaling dispute Fashion louis vuitton handbags 2012 new arrival brown with Japan.