Australia has ratified the Kyoto Protocol. This was Kevin Rudd’s first official act as the new Australian Prime Minister.
But according to an international law expert, Donald Rothwell, without domestic legislation in place the new government could be in breach of its international legal obligations.
According to the Professor, the normal method for ratifying treaties is not a speedy process but rather involves the preparation of a national impact analysis, then a parliamentary inquiry and enacting new domestic laws.
No national impact analysis had been undertaken on Kyoto – but we have ratified nevertheless.
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Thanks to Ian Mott for the story.
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD has worked in industry and government. She is currently researching a novel technique for long-range weather forecasting funded by the B. Macfie Family Foundation.