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Kevin Rudd’s Address To UN Bali Conference On Climate Change

Australia now stands ready to assume its responsibility in responding to the challenge of climate change, according to the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.

Addressing the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Bali, Rudd said his first act as Prime Minister had been to sign the formal instrument for Australia to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. This was because “we believe that climate change represents one of the greatest moral, economic and environmental challenges of our age”.

Rudd reiterated his government’s decision to await the Garnaut Review in mid-2008 before deciding on short and medium term targets for reducing greenhouse emissions.

  • Listen to Kevin Rudd’s Address to the Bali Conference (11m)

This is the full text of Kevin Rudd’s Address to the Conference on Climate Change, in Bali.

His Excellency, the President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, His Excellency, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, fellow national Leaders, Ministers, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, and all people of goodwill committed to the future of our planet.

I join with the Secretary-General and with the President of the Indonesian Republic in expressing our combined condemnation of this obscene terrorist attack in Algiers. An attack on innocent civilians, an attack on the agents of peace, those working for the United Nations, and therefore, an attack on us all. And I join with them in extending our thoughts and our prayers to those directly affected by this obscene attack. [Read more…]


Rudd Government Ratifies Kyoto Protocol: First Official Decision

In its first official act, hours after being sworn into office, the Rudd Labor Government has ratified the Kyoto Protocol.

This significant practical and symbolic decision draws another line under the Howard era.

This is the text of a media statement from the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.

Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister of AustraliaToday I have signed the instrument of ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. This is the first official act of the new Australian Government, demonstrating my Government’s commitment to tackling climate change.

Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol was considered and approved by the first Executive Council meeting of the Government this morning. The Governor-General has granted his approval for Australia to ratify the Kyoto Protocol at my request. [Read more…]


Howard And Rudd Comment On ASEAN Non-Aggression Treaty

As Prime Minister John Howard flies out to attend the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit, he has commented on the ASEAN Non-Aggression Treaty.

The Opposition’s Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kevin Rudd, also commented on the treaty.

ASEAN is the Association of South-East Asian Nations. The organisation was formed in 1967. Its members are: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), and Vietnam.

Australia and New Zealand attend the Leader’s Summits but neither country is a formal member of ASEAN. [Read more…]


Greater Transparency For Treaty-Making Process

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, has announced changes to the treaty-making process, aimed to provide greater transparency and public accessibility.

The timeframe for parliamentary consultation with interest groups will be extended, and the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties will have a revised procedure for public consultations.

Downer also announced that an Australian Treaties Database with a powerful search engine capability will be formed. [Read more…]