| The Federal Government will not ratify the protocol until the economic impact of doing so is fully assessed. |
| Technically, as all 25 member states must ratify the treaty for it to take effect, it is dead. |
| Most other countries will be able to ratify on the basis of approval by national parliaments. |
| States parties must not only sign but they must ratify and domesticate the provisions of a Convention in order to make it applicable. |
| And it's doubtful that decisions to ratify international covenants on the subject involve much public consideration either. |
| The Senate's refusal last year to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty may have been a straw in the wind. |
