Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has rebuked a journalist, accusing him of showing “very disrespectful” conduct toward Pacific leaders after he was questioned about the multimillion-dollar price tag attached to a climate summit in Fiji.
The tense moment came during a stopover in Palau on Wednesday, when 7News reporter Josh Martin asked whether Australian taxpayers were receiving value for money from the summit, which is expected to cost more than $20million.
Taxpayers are already covering a $5.6million accommodation bill for the four-day pre-COP31 talks, scheduled to take place in Nadi from October 5 to 8.
The meeting is part of Australia’s broader preparations for the United Nations COP31 climate summit, which is set to be held in Antalya, Turkey, in November.
Scrutiny over the expense has intensified because, at this stage, only five leaders from outside the Pacific have been confirmed to attend: those from Thailand, Antigua and Barbuda, Cabo Verde, the Maldives and Timor-Leste.
The United States, United Kingdom and China have not yet said whether their leaders will make the trip.
Challenged over whether the spending was justified with so few world leaders locked in, Albanese jumped in to defend both the summit and Australia’s Pacific neighbours.
‘With respect, you are being so disrespectful to the Pacific leaders who are here,’ Albanese said.
Anthony Albanese (pictured) told 7NEWS’ Josh Martin that he was being ‘disrespectful’
When Martin pressed on the attendance figures, the Prime Minister showed growing frustration.
‘Sorry, but we need to actually have some respect for the process and respect for our Pacific leaders, and Australia has an absolute interest in engaging with the Pacific.’
Albanese argued that Australia’s investment in regional climate diplomacy was essential for its wider security interests.
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‘The entry fee for credibility in the Pacific, including on national security issues,’ he said.
‘There’s lots of rhetoric about national security, but if you want to look at what the cost would be of an event, or some of the things that countries might want to do in the Pacific, and what the cost would be of a response to that, then I’ll tell you what, you’re not talking about those sort of figures.
‘You’re talking about a much, much larger figure.’
The Prime Minister insisted Australia must work closely with Pacific nations, and that the pre-COP gathering was proof of that commitment.
‘We have an absolute interest in engaging with the Pacific respectfully,’ Albanese said.
Josh Martin (pictured) questioned Albanese if the summit was value for money for taxpayers
‘Treating them for the world leaders that they are, as well as the global agencies who will all be at pre-COP.’
Albanese also rejected suggestions the summit had failed to gain traction, saying Pacific leaders were fully behind Australia’s participation.
‘There isn’t one leader here who has criticised Australia for our support for bringing the pre-COP to the Pacific. In fact, it is the opposite,’ he said.
The Fiji talks were secured as a compromise after Turkey defeated a joint Australia-Pacific bid to host the main COP31 event.
Despite missing out on the full conference, the Albanese government has remained prominent in preparations, with Bowen serving as President of Negotiations for COP31 and chairing the meetings in Fiji.
The government has defended the spending, arguing the summit will strengthen Australia’s regional relationships and boost its influence on climate and security issues.