Bowen’s side role at international summit will cost taxpayers almost $150m

Australia will spend nearly $150 million on Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen’s side role as president of negotiations at the United Nations’ next climate conference, as well as on supporting Pacific nations to participate in the global event.

During a Senate estimates hearing on Monday, Environment Department officials told Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson the May budget had allocated the funding - which includes 70 full-time equivalent staff – in the lead up to the 31st Conference of the Parties meeting in November, otherwise known as COP31.

Bowen was appointed to the role of president of negotiations for COP31 as a consolation prize after the Albanese government was forced to withdraw its bid to host the summit, ceding the rights to Turkey.

To support Bowen ahead of COP31, 30 staff will be allocated to an office of the presidency, drawn from existing staff from the Department of Energy, Climate Change, Environment and Water. Other staff from the climate negotiations division will support Pacific nations.

Henderson asked the officials if there was a cap on spending for COP31. Department Secretary Mike Kaiser said the expenditure would not exceed $148 million.

“Oh, thank you. Well that is a great relief. Australian taxpayers know there is not going to be more than $148 million spent,” Henderson said.

Bowen said Henderson’s remarks showed the opposition are “embarrassingly out of touch”.

“It beggars belief that during an international energy crisis, the opposition doesn’t think it’s important to engage with the rest of the world,” Bowen said.

Kaiser said the staff working on COP would be working on similar issues regardless of the impending conference.

Bowen’s role is set to be an influential one, with authority to select international politicians to lead particular areas of negotiation and to draft the final text that will define any resolutions of the summit. Bowen also secured a commitment for a pre-conference international summit to be held in a Pacific nation.

Australia’s nomination to host the summit in Adelaide included Pacific neighbours as co-hosts. Pacific nations were bitterly disappointed when Turkey refused to budge and Australia withdrew.

Many in the region had viewed it as a final opportunity to spur global climate action needed to address rising sea levels.

The pre-COP meeting will be held in Fiji and is aimed at directing finance to small island nations.

Kaiser clashed with Henderson when the Senator demanded that an official, head of the international climate and energy division David Henderson, detail the cost of departmental staff visiting Fiji in preparation for the pre-COP event.

Kaiser defended his colleague, who had said he needed to take the question on notice to collate the costs.

“You are being unreasonable, senator, on Mr Higgins,” Kaiser said. “You are being unreasonable. I would hope you could allow him to come back with a considered answer.”

Henderson said she understood the need to consider the response, but continued to press for answers.