Waste MP James Stevens slams $1.3m Albanese govt travel bill to attend climate ‘jamboree’

The Albanese government sent more than 60 people to a climate conference in Dubai. Opposition MP James Stevens says the cost is bad enough, but emissions generated from all those flights are the “height of irony”.

Internal departmental documents have revealed the cost of the Albanese government sending more than 60 people to the COP28 UN climate change conference in Dubai last year was almost $1.3 million.

Dubbed the “biggest of its kind”, more than 85,000 people from around the world participated in the event last year.

But just how successful the conference was in terms of the array of pledges and commitments translating into meaningful action is yet to be determined with critics increasingly labelling the event as a talkfest.

As for how much it is costing Australian taxpayers, documents obtained under Freedom of Information laws by Opposition waste spokesman James Stevens reveal the federal government sent more than 60 people at an average cost of $21,156 per person.

The group included an “official delegation” of 48, included three ministers – Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, Emergency Management Minister Jenny McAllister and Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Ged Kearney – and four staffers with the airfares and hotels costing $988,914.

James Stevens says emissions generated from the multitude of flights taken by public servants and agency officials to the conference are “the height of irony”. Picture Kelly Barnes

The documents show a further three representatives from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency – a body established by the federal government to support the global transition to net zero through funding innovative projects – also attended at a cost of $50,252.

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation – a government-owned “green bank” that invests in clean energy – sent three people with their travel bill coming in at $49,383 while the CSIRO had four representatives attend at a cost of $39,458.

The Department of Health and Aged Care also sent two people, with their travel bill coming in at $35,350.

Ms Kearney – who released a national health and climate strategy at the conference – noted in a media release issued at the time the serious health and wellbeing challenges Australians faced from climate change.

“The World Health Organisation has described climate change as the greatest threat to global health this century,” she said.

A Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts official also went along at a cost of $16,336.

Chris Bowen was among 60 Australians at the summit. Picture: NewsWire/ John Gass

Jenny McAllister also attened. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

However, the documents show up to another 35 attendees also attended, while the COP28 website shows a further 100-plus people from Australia listed as having a “paid relationship/contract with the nominating entity” also participated, suggesting further public dollars may have indirectly funded additional travellers to the event.

The bill has been seized upon by Mr Stevens who declared the emissions generated from the multitude of flights taken by public servants and agency officials attending a conference about reducing carbon emissions as being “the height of irony”.

“Australia needs appropriate representation at international events such as COP,” he said.

“What is not appropriate is for a ballooning number of public servants to treat such events as an overseas taxpayer-funded jamboree.”

In defending the delegation, a spokesperson for Mr Bowen noted the “large delegation” former prime minister Scott Morrison and then energy minister Angus Taylor took to the Glasgow Climate Conference in 2021.

It is understood the official Coalition delegation to COP26 comprised 55 people, while 11 Coalition MPs also registered to attend COP28 this year.

“Australia is strengthening multilateral climate relationships to deliver economic opportunities by engaging with trading partners – COP being the most important of these each year,” the spokesperson said.

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

“Scott Morrison and Angus Taylor took a large delegation to the Glasgow Climate Conference in 2021. Departmental travel is assessed based on the same criteria irrespective of which party is in Government.”

Originally published as Waste MP James Stevens slams $1.3m Albanese govt travel bill to attend climate ‘jamboree’