Climate bureaucrats spent more than $3 million on international travel to support Chris Bowen’s failed diplomatic blitz to secure hosting rights for COP31.

According to documents obtained by the Opposition under Freedom of Information laws, officials from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water spent more than $3 million on international travel from 1 July 2025 to 31 December 2025, almost double what bureaucrats spent over the previous full financial year. 60 trips were undertaken and 136 officials dispatched.

Travel over this six-month period included visits to Lisbon and New York, where Chris Bowen personally lobbied world leaders to have Australia host COP31 only for the bid to fail in a major diplomatic disaster for the Albanese Labor Government.

Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Dan Tehan said Labor was treating taxpayers like mugs.

“Chris Bowen dragged a phalanx of bureaucrats around the world with him to support his failed bid to host an international climate conference,” Mr Tehan said.

“Instead of gorging himself on international travel, Chris Bowen should be sitting down at his desk and working out how he’s going to deliver on his failed promise to cut power bills by $275.

“Under the Coalition’s plan to deliver cheaper energy, we’ll scrap Net Zero, unlock our critical resources and axe the carbon taxes.”

Earlier this month in the Senate, Labor blocked the release of the RSVP list for the special leaders-level Pre-COP event in Tuvalu, due to take place in October this year.

ENDS

Media contact: Phil Connole M | 0417 063 605