Senate debates Questions without Notice
United Nations Climate Change Conference
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
2:12 pm
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Ayres. On Sunday, the Prime Minister, Minister Wong and Minister Bowen issued a joint media release outlining the details of the formal agreement with Turkiye for it to host the COP 31 climate conference. The joint media release states, 'Australia, in partnership with the Pacific island countries, will set the agenda for pre-COP in the Pacific, preside over pre-COP and fulfil all the operational and logistical responsibilities for pre-COP.' Does this mean the Australian taxpayers will be asked to pay for the costs of putting on the pre-COP? If so, how much has the government budgeted for these expenses?
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
2:13 pm
I think it is a good question, because it allows me to spell out, just for a second, in the hope it might sink in—I mean, they're not all there, but for those that are. I want to break this to you really slowly. It is in the Australian interest and the interest of Australians for these climate negotiations to be successful. It is in the interest of Australia for Australia's interest to be represented there by our capable and effective Minister for Climate Change and Energy. It's Australian farmers, Australian industry, regional communities—
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
On a point of order, Madam President, on relevance, the minister has gone nowhere near the cost of the issues outlined in the joint media release issued by the Prime Minister and Minister Wong.
Sue Lines President
Thank you, Senator McKenzie. I think Senator Ayres is addressing the media release, but I will continue to listen carefully, and if he doesn't I'll draw him to the question.
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
The media release and the Conference of the Parties, of course, go to all of these questions. It's in Australians' interests—Australian farmers, Australian industry, coastal communities and communities in the bush—and, of course, it's also in the interests—
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
of our friends and neighbours in the Pacific, who you lot mock and make fun of. Your previous leader mocked their interests. We are working with them to deliver in Australian interests. Today, there are representatives of those countries and their churches touring this building—
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
speaking to us directly—in fact, this morning, singing beautifully—about their interests—their national interests. That is what is being represented here, and it's absolutely in Australia's interests. (Time expired)
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
2:16 pm
So you have no idea how much you've budgeted for pre COP. Let's try the joint statement. It also states that Australia will be responsible for:
Minister, will Australian taxpayers have to bear any of the costs associated with preparations and consultations for the COP31 climate conference in Turkiye?
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
Well, what you're talking about, Senator McKenzie, strikes me as a good COP. That is a COP where Australia's interest is represented—
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
because it's in our interests to see, in a measurable way, a plan to reduce emissions.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Point of order on the persistent and very loud interjections from Senator McKenzie.
Sue Lines President
Thank you. I was going to inform Senator McKenzie that she was being louder than the minister, which is quite a feat. I would ask you not to interject any further, because I want to hear the answer. Minister Ayres, please continue.
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
I will take that as a personal challenge, President.
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
That's a good COP, where our interests are represented. I'll tell you what a bad COP is. A bad COP is what Mr Morrison did last time in his mysterious trip to Glasgow, with almost a hundred people clustered around him, pandering to his every whim. He spent half his time in the United Kingdom on a family history holiday, utterly self-indulgent. These costs will be determined in the normal way.
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
2:18 pm
The minister has gone nowhere near answering how much money the Australian public will be on the hook for for this decision. Let's try for the third time. Can the government guarantee that Australian taxpayers will not have to cop any of the costs associated with the planning, communication and delivery of the COP31 conference in Turkiye? The third time's the charm, Minister.
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
The conference in Turkiye is a diplomatic triumph for Australia. That's what it is. The costs for that will be determined in the normal way.
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
How much?
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
You know, Senator McKenzie—
Sue Lines President
Senator McKenzie, I have appealed to you not to call out and not to interject. You've asked your questions. I'll listen for the minister's answer.
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
I've answered in relation to costs for this. I'll tell you the costs that I'm concerned about. Mr Joyce, a former member of the National Party, under you lot claimed six hundred and—
Ross Cadell NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water
Did we miss that?
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
It's a matter of time. He claimed $675,000.
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
The minister has been misrepresenting—
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
Sue Lines President
That's a debating point. What is the point of order?
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
who is still a member of the National Party.
Sue Lines President
Senator McKenzie, I have asked senators many times not to use points of order as some sort of way to make a personal statement. If you had stood and asked me to direct the minister back to the question, I would have gladly done so, and I intend to draw the minister back to the question. That would have been an appropriate point of order. Minister Ayres, please go back to the question.
Tim Ayres NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation
As I said, I've dealt with the question of costs. I understand that his ambiguous party membership status is a challenge for you. He's in the National Party and out of the National Party; he determines the National Party's policy approach and now he determines the Liberal Party's policy approach—in and out, the sort of Schrodinger's member for New England. He copped $675,000 in the pocket for being the special envoy, and he produced two text messages.
Sue Lines President
Thank you, Minister. The time for answering has expired. Senator Faruqi.
We have now moved on. I called Senator Faruqi. Senator Faruqi.