Climate bureaucrats accused of ‘billowing carbon’ with $1.4m trips in six months

A Liberal MP says public servants tackling climate change are emitting a lot of carbon dioxide flying around the world to attend meetings about not emitting carbon dioxide.

High flying Albanese government environment bureaucrats have been accused of “billowing carbon” into the atmosphere by going on 154 trips costing almost $1.4 million in just six months.

The details are contained in documents obtained under freedom of information by Opposition “waste watch” MP James Stevens from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, with the trip costs covering the period between July to December last year.

The International Climate and Energy Division topped the list of costliest agencies within the department, with public servants going on 95 trips costing just over $1 million.

The trip breakdown showed overseas flights cost $859,440 while hotels added another $145,257. Staff also spent $145,257 on domestic travel and accommodation.

The International Environment, Reef and Ocean Division was next on the list, with staff going on 30 trips at a cost of $242,583. Overseas flight for the division totalled $242,583, while hotels cost just over $45,000, with domestic travel and accommodation adding another $1151 to the bill.

Albanese government environment bureaucrats have been accused of “billowing carbon” into the atmosphere by going on 154 trips costing almost $1.4 million in just six months. Picture: Brendan Radke

Australian Antarctic Division staff took 29 trips with the flights and hotels costing $115,728.

Describing the overseas flight bill as “perverse”, Mr Stevens questioned the need for all of the international travel given the availability to attend meetings remotely.

“Tackling climate change seems to require emitting a lot of carbon dioxide, flying around the world to attend meetings about not emitting carbon dioxide,” he said.

“It would be interesting to understand why all of this international business class travel is necessary with modern technology making remote meetings and collaboration a practical and reasonable alternative in many circumstances.

Liberal MP James Stevens. Picture: Emily Olle

“There is something truly perverse about the relentless overseas travel undertaken by bureaucrats who could be setting an example on how to reduce our carbon footprint, instead of billowing carbon into the atmosphere on their countless international jaunts.”

The department’s agencies are shared between Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek and Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen.

A spokesman for Mr Bowen, who is responsible for the costliest agency – International Climate and Energy Division – said departmental international travel was used only when other communication means were deemed “ineffective at pursuing the government’s agenda”.

“Australia’s international environment and climate change engagement activities are proportionate to achieving our net zero and nature positive ambitions,” he said.

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