Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition asked me about ministerial travel and pretty clearly criticised me going to Brazil last week and travelling back yesterday. Apparently, international trips aren't appropriate! This is a recent development, because on 11 July 2021 the minister for the environment announced that she would be travelling overseas as part of the Morrison government's campaign to stand up for Australia's interest and support the Great Barrier Reef communities and tourism operators ahead of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting. The press release said, 'Minister Ley will visit a number of countries.' The press release does not tell us how many countries she visited; we had to read the Australian two weeks later to find out 'Australia's minister for the environment, Sussan Ley, travelled to more than a dozen countries in recent weeks to secure support'. That's what you call a copout.

Honourable members interjecting—

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