Chris Bowen appears to fall asleep at his taxpayer-funded climate change conference at five star Fiji resort
Australia’s Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen has been caught on camera appearing to fall asleep at his taxpayer-funded climate event in Fiji.
The event, which had an estimated cost of $20million, was set up as a prelude to the United Nations’ annual COP climate summit being held in November.
While the main UN climate conference will be held in Antalya, Turkey, in November, the Albanese government is spending millions on accommodation, event management and logistics for the Fiji pre-gathering.
In Fiji, Bowen was expected to talk about the need for more electrification in the region, and set to appear alongside speakers such as Julia Gillard and Jacinda Ardern.
Cameras appeared to catch Bowen closing his eyes multiple times while sitting in the audience at the event held at a fancy resort.
Despite the price tag for the occasion, just two non-Pacific leaders, from Mauritius and Timor-Leste, had confirmed they would attend the event’s key meeting in Tuvalu.
Around 4000 climate advocates and bureaucrats, and 14 government leaders or heads of state were also expected to attend, along with journalists and officials of international bodies.
Speaking to News24, shadow energy minister Dan Tehan said, ‘He was dreaming of what the meeting might be like if some leaders had turned up.’
Australia’s Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen has been caught on camera appearing to fall asleep at his taxpayer-funded climate event in Fiji
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Climate Change Chris Bowen
‘He’s obviously had a big day. No leaders have turned up so he’s been by the pool on the banana lounge sipping a few cocktails,’ he said.
‘You seriously can’t make this stuff up, can you? It is beyond farcical.’
The Fiji talks were agreed as part of a compromise after Turkey beat a joint Australia-Pacific bid for the main COP31 summit.
‘Australian taxpayers are underwriting an offshore warm-up meeting, the economic benefits of which flow to Fiji and the actual conference will be held in Turkey.’
Government procurement records reveal the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water booked rooms across a string of high-end Fiji resort for the conference.
The department signed a $2,113,467 contract with Barton Pte Limited, operator of the five-star Sheraton Fiji Golf and Beach Resort on Denarau Island.
‘A pre-COP is therefore the conference before the conference, because apparently one enormous international climate talkfest is no longer enough,’ explains Daily Mail political editor Peter van Onselen.
‘Australian taxpayers are underwriting an offshore warm-up meeting, the economic benefits of which flow to Fiji and the actual conference will be held in Turkey.’
A total of $5.6million is set to be spent on accommodation – as part of $19.8million event cost
Join the discussion
How do you feel about millions in Aussie taxes funding luxury Fiji resorts for climate talks?
Government procurement records reveal the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has booked rooms across a string of high-end Fiji resorts ahead of the summit.
The department signed a $2,113,467 contract with Barton Pte Limited, operator of the five-star Sheraton Fiji Golf and Beach Resort on Denarau Island.
The venue boasts an 18-hole championship golf course, tennis courts and ‘lagoon-style’ pools.
Another $2,083,706 contract went to Richmond Pte Limited, which operates the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa and the luxury Vatu Tale.
The Sofitel Fiji has five restaurants with flavours ‘inspired by local and seasonal ingredients from France, Fiji and the Far East’.
The department also entered into contracts worth $995,650 with the four-star Crowne Plaza Fiji and Nadi Bay Resort.
Other records show an additional $172,890 was spent at the Wyndham Garden Wailoaloa Beach, $102,749 at Warwick Hotels and Resorts, $94,157 at Tanoa International Hotel, $90,850 at Novotel Nadi and $19,866 at the Radisson Blu Resort Fiji.
Accommodation contracts alone total more than $5.6million.
Peter van Onselen said it was a disgrace Aussie taxpayers were funding the conference
Van Onselen said the spending is a disgrace.
‘While Australians battle mortgage stress, soaring grocery bills and crippling energy prices, international bureaucrats will be enjoying five-star beachfront resorts, an 18-hole golf course, wellness facilities, lagoon pools and even an in-house nightclub.
‘There’s also more than a whiff of parody in flying scores of delegates to a tropical island to discuss reducing emissions.
‘Adding insult to injury, the accommodation and venue expenditure won’t do anything for Australian hotels, conference operators or tourism workers.
‘Had the event been held here, the government could at least argue that the money would circulate through the domestic economy.
‘Instead, Australian taxpayers are underwriting an offshore warm-up meeting, the economic benefits of which flow to Fiji and the actual conference will be held in Turkey.’
