Australia on Monday will lodge a written submission with the International Court of Justice to argue Japan's whaling activities have breached international obligations, its attorney-general said in a statement Monday.

According to Attorney-General Robert McClelland, the move is Australia's next step in the case to put an end to Japan's whaling program in the Southern Ocean.

He said the full case will be presented to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands on Monday.

"Despite Australia repeatedly calling on Japan to cease its illegal whaling activities, Japan has refused to do so," McClelland said in a statement released on Monday.

"The government disagrees with Japan's decision to continue whaling and this is the proper way to settle legal differences between friends."

In its submission, Australia argues that Japan is in breach of the general prohibition under the convention on commercial whaling, as well as a prohibition on commercial whaling in the Southern Ocean sanctuary.

"The government believes the whaling carried out by Japan is commercial, not scientific, and does not fall within that narrow exception," McClelland said.

Japan must file its counter-memorial to the International Court of Justice by March 9 next year.