Australia hopes Bali summit yield a "step forward"

The hope was expressed by Australian Federal Climate Change Minister Penny Wong on Tuesday, a day after the country`s new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd signed documents to ratify Kyoto Protocol in his bid to end his predecessor John Howard`s decade of opposition to the global climate agreement.

"We want to ensure that what we agree in Bali gives Australia and the world the best chance to moving towards a solution on climate change," ABC News quoted Penny Wong as saying on Tuesday.

She said Australia`s decision to ratify the Kyoto Protocol put the nation back on the map in the fight against climate change.

She said Australia would become a full member of the Kyoto Protocol early next year.

Senator Wong added that the decision set Australia up for a leadership role at the conference.

"Ratifying the Kyoto Protocol puts Australia back on the map," she said.