$886,000 taxpayer bill to fly Pacific Ministers to ritzy climate conference

Australian taxpayers spent $886,000 on flights and hotels for 13 Pacific Island ministers to attend a climate conference in Sydney. Here is what the government won’t tell you about that bill.

Australian taxpayers were lugged with a $886,000 bill so the Albanese government could fly and house a dozen ministers from Pacific Island nations to a ritzy $5m climate summit in Sydney.

The Summit, which was blasted as an “embarrassment” for Labor after it failed to attract big names or any clear outcomes, cost a total of $4.86m shared between the federal and state government.

The Sunday Telegraph can now reveal that $886,000 was spent to fly and house 13 ministers from Pacific Island nations.

During a parliamentary hearing, it was revealed that the operational and delivery costs for the commonwealth were “about $1.95 million” while “additional costs around participation and

engagement, including travel and accommodation assistance for, say, Pacific island ministers, was about $886,000”.

A spokesman for Ms Plibersek said the government was “listening and supporting our neighbours. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Despite funding their trips, there “no obligations” on the attendees to take any specific action on climate in the aftermath of the visit.

“There were no obligations that arose out of the summit. I think there was lots of opportunity to emphasise greater partnerships and ways of working together to collaborate. There is a highlight of the summit outcomes available on the DCCEEW website at the moment.”

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s office refused to answer if the cost was in addition to the $4.86m cost or where the ministers were hosted for their stay in Sydney.

A spokesman for Ms Plibersek said the government was “listening and supporting our neighbours”, blaming the former Coalition government for damaging Australia’s relationship with the Pacific and China.

“After a decade of neglect under the Liberals and Nationals, we have had a lot of work to do to repair and strengthen diplomatic relationships, especially with the Pacific and China,” they said.

Opposition environment spokesman Jono Duniam labelled the spending as “reckless”. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

“We’ve renewed Australia’s relationships abroad, and we’re listening and supporting our neighbours, working in the region for peace and prosperity.”

Opposition environment spokesman Jono Duniam labelled the spending as “reckless”.

“Among the many cost blowouts the Labor Government are inflicting on our country’s finances, the $886,000 spent just to persuade Pacific Island Ministers to attend a meaningless conference is particularly outrageous.”

“These Pacific Islanders would have barely been able to believe their luck in being gifted international travel and accommodation at Australia’s expense.

That the cost of this was nearly $1 million makes one question the level of luxury that Tanya Plibersek greenlighted for them.”

“What makes this even worse was that this summit had no purpose and achieved nothing.”

Originally published as $886,000 taxpayer bill to fly Pacific Ministers to ritzy climate conference