COP THAT: Bowen leads push to reduce fossil fuels at pacific climate summit as Australia grapples with petrol shortage

In the middle of Australia’s fuel crisis, Australia’s Energy Minister Chris Bowen jetted to Brisbane to attend a conference demanding “just climate action”. 

While Australians are struggling to fill up their cars with petrol, Mr Bowen was at the third meeting of the Climate Change Ministers Talanoa – leading the Opposition to demand he stop trying to manage the fuel crisis “part-time”. 

Mr Bowen and guests were gathered ahead of the pre-event for the Conference of the Parties (COP) – the United Nations’ annual climate summit taking place in Turkey this year – which Mr Bowen will also be flying to.

The Climate Change Ministers Talanoa, which aims at limiting emissions into the atmosphere, was held at Brisbane’s Customs House, featured a smoking ceremony and required extensive air travel to bring the ministers together from across the Pacific. 

SkyNews.com.au understands Mr Bowen would have been accompanied by at least two staffers, whose flights and accommodation would have been taxpayer funded, and a number of departmental representatives from Canberra.

Mr Bowen himself was flown by the taxpayer to the conference from Melbourne, where he was with the visiting Danish Royals, before rubbing shoulders with fellow climate ministers from the Pacific in Brisbane. 

It remains unclear whether visitors from the Pacific Islands would have been given free flights and accommodation by the Albanese government. 

Brisbane hotel costs throughout the event average at least $250 per room per night, an analysis of Booking.com shows. 

The event comes as Australia’s regions battle soaring diesel prices that are beginning to exceed $3 a litre.

Shadow energy and climate change minister Dan Tehan said Mr Bowen’s attendance at the conference shows the Energy Minister is not focussed on the nation’s energy needs. 

“Chris Bowen has called the fuel situation a national crisis, yet he’s spending his time at a climate conference,” Mr Tehan told SkyNews.com.au. 

“You cannot manage a fuel emergency part-time. The Prime Minister needs to make him focus on the job Australians are paying him to do.” 

Mr Tehan demanded his Labor counterpart “immediately step down” from his COP position and concentrate on fixing the fuel crisis. 

This comes just after Labor was forced to appoint a climate change bureaucrat as its fuel supply tsar to handle oil shortages which have created immense price pain at the bowser. 

“The fact the Prime Minister has had to appoint a fuel tsar tells you everything,” Mr Tehan said. 

“Chris Bowen has been asleep at the wheel. In the middle of a national fuel crisis, Australians deserve a full-time Energy Minister focused on outcomes.  

“This is a test of priorities and Chris Bowen has failed it. The Prime Minister must direct him to step aside from international commitments and focus entirely on securing Australia’s fuel supply and bringing prices under control.”