Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen has brushed off his embarrassing hot mic exchange with Anthony Albanese at COP31 as a 'blokey, jokey conversation'.
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Bowen → brush → conversation
Speaking to The Australian on Saturday, Bowen said the conversation was nothing more than a light-hearted private discussion inadvertently broadcast.
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conversation → speak → discussion
'Anthony and I are good friends,' Bowen said.
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Bowen → say → ?
He acknowledged the language was unusual for ministers speaking publicly but argued the word was commonly used in everyday conversation.
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word → acknowledge → conversation
'We used a word that ministers would not normally use in public,' he said.
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he → use → public
'But it's probably used pretty broadly in the Australian community.
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it → use → community
The awkward exchange occurred on Friday when Albanese placed his phone in the breast pocket of his suit jacket, gesturing to the pocket over his heart.
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Albanese → occur → heart
Bowen (right) the conversation was nothing more than a light-hearted private discussion
He asked Bowen: 'Do you keep your phone here?'
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you → ask → phone
'Generally, yeah,' Bowen replied.
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Bowen → reply → ?
'Don't,' Albanese responded.
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Albanese → respond → ?
Bowen explained he had changed his habits regarding where he carried his phone.
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he → explain → phone
I stopped putting it in my pants pocket,' he said.
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he → stop → pocket
Albanese then asked: 'Because of your d***?'
'Because of my d***. That's rather important... arguably more important than the heart,' Bowen responded, prompting laughter from both men.
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Bowen → ask → men
The comments were made while other delegates were present.
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delegates → make → ?
Chris Bowen (pictured) said he was 'completely' focused on climate change at the conference
Environment Minister Murray Watt had also dismissed the controversy, arguing critics were overreacting to what was clearly a joke.
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what → picture → controversy
'This is really just about people having a joke,' Watt said.
'
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Watt → have → joke
I know there's been a lot of criticism from some quarters about every aspect of this COP, but the reality is participating in and in fact leading the discussions at COP is in Australia's national interest.'
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participating → know → interest
NSW Premier Chris Minns played down the incident when questioned by reporters.
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Minns → play → reporters
'I just don't think it's the end of the world,' Minns said.
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Minns → think → world
The hot mic controversy is the latest distraction to emerge from COP31, the United Nations' annual climate conference, which has brought together representatives from more than 190 countries in Antalya to negotiate global action on climate change.
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which → emerge → change
It follows a separate political row over the Australian government's decision to provide free coffee at its national pavilion, after it was revealed taxpayers would cover a $32,100 bill for the service.
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taxpayers → follow → service
The coffee stand has become one of the busiest attractions at the summit, with delegates reportedly waiting up to 45 minutes for a cup and an estimated 1,800 coffees served since Monday, about 80 drinks an hour.
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delegates → become → Monday
Taxpayers were charged a $32,100 bill for Australia to serve coffees at the COP31 summit
The Coalition has seized on the expense as an example of wasteful spending, accusing the Albanese government of using taxpayer funds to subsidise coffee for summit delegates.
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Coalition → charge → delegates
Bowen has strongly defended the expenditure, arguing Australia's pavilion plays an important role in advancing the nation's interests and accusing Opposition Leader Angus Taylor of political hypocrisy.
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pavilion → defend → hypocrisy
Does he want one lump of hypocrisy or two with his coffee?' Bowen told the ABC.
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Bowen → want → ABC
'My job is to steer consensus to the most ambitious outcome that consensus will allow.'
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consensus → steer → outcome
The Aporia
