Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen were recorded in a candid exchange at the COP31 climate conference in Turkey on Friday, joking about phone radiation and anatomy, before their official remarks began. The prime minister’s office brushed it off as a joke between meetings.
The conversation was picked up by a television microphone as the pair waited to start a roundtable discussion on business investment in renewable energy. In the footage, broadcast by Channel Seven, Albanese put his phone in his jacket pocket and asked Bowen if he was right-handed. He then told Bowen that he should store his phone away from his heart because “it can interfere with your rhythm”. Bowen jokingly asked if it was because it was “a little bit radioactive”, to which Albanese said yes. When Bowen said he was more conscious of putting his phone in his pants pocket, Albanese asked: “Because of your dick?” Bowen replied: “Arguably more important than the heart.”
A spokesman for the prime minister said: "They were having a joke in between meetings."
The roundtable, held on Friday, focused on business opportunities with Australian agencies and investors in the country’s renewable energy transition. In his opening remarks, Albanese said: "Trade and investment components of these annual climate meetings are absolutely critical. It’s how we turn the commitments that we want to make into actions and outcomes, and capitalise on the opportunity which is before us."
Australia is co-hosting this year’s COP31 conference with Turkey. Bowen has taken on the role of president of negotiations after Australia lost its bid to host the event in Adelaide. Albanese left Turkey shortly after the roundtable and would head straight to the Philippines for the ASEAN summit, while Bowen would stay in Antalya and lead negotiations between 190 countries until the end of next week. The incident recalls a 2015 hot mic moment when then-prime minister Tony Abbott and then-home affairs minister Peter Dutton were caught joking about water lapping at Pacific islands threatened by rising sea levels.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Hot mic incidents can undermine political credibility, particularly when they occur at a climate summit where message discipline is paramount.
- The jocular tone about health risks from phones could be seen as insensitive given the serious nature of climate negotiations.
- The distraction may test the government’s ability to stay focused on its climate diplomacy agenda.
Background
The COP31 climate conference is this year’s annual United Nations climate summit, co-hosted by Australia and Turkey in Antalya. Chris Bowen serves as president of negotiations, responsible for steering talks among nearly 200 countries. The Australian government has faced scrutiny over its climate policies at the conference. In 2015, a similar hot mic incident involving Tony Abbott and Peter Dutton, who joked about "water lapping" at Pacific islands, damaged Australia’s reputation in the region.
What to Watch
- Whether the clip gains wider circulation and prompts further commentary from opposition figures or climate activists.
- How the incident might affect Australia’s standing in the ongoing negotiations, particularly with vulnerable nations.
- Whether the government moves to tighten media access to private delegate conversations at future summits.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedAlbanese and Bowen were caught in a hot-mic gaffe at COP31.The Age - Latest News: “Albanese and Bowen caught in hot mic gaffe.”
- SupportedThe pair joked about phone radiation and anatomy before a business roundtable.The Age - Latest News: “Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen have been recorded making small talk about phone radiation and “dicks” in a candid moment caught on camera”
- SupportedThe exchange was recorded at the COP31 conference in Turkey on Friday, before the pair’s official remarks.The Age - Latest News: “The exchange was picked up with a hot mic on Friday as the pair chatted while waiting to start a roundtable discussion about business investment at this year’s COP31 climate conference in the Turkish town of Antalya.”
- SupportedAlbanese told Bowen to keep his phone away from his heart because “it can interfere with your rhythm”.The Age - Latest News: “He then told Bowen that he should store his phone away from his heart because “it can interfere with your rhythm”.”
- SupportedBowen asked if the phone was “a little bit radioactive”, and Albanese said yes.The Age - Latest News: “Bowen jokingly asked whether it was because it was “a little bit radioactive?” to which Albanese said yes, “it makes absolute sense”.”
- SupportedAlbanese asked Bowen, “Because of your dick?”The Age - Latest News: “The prime minister asked: “Because of your dick?””
- SupportedBowen replied, “Arguably more important than the heart.”The Age - Latest News: ““Arguably more important than the heart,” he said.”
- SupportedA spokesman for Albanese said, “They were having a joke in between meetings.”The Age - Latest News: “A spokesman for the prime minister said: “They were having a joke in between meetings.””
- SupportedAlbanese’s opening remarks included: “Trade and investment components of these annual climate meetings are absolutely critical. It’s how we turn the commitments that we want to make into actions and outcomes, and capitalise on the opportunity which is before us.”The Age - Latest News: ““Trade and investment components of these annual climate meetings are absolutely critical,” Albanese said in his opening remarks. “It’s how we turn the commitments that we want to make into actions and outcomes, and capitalise on the opportunity which is before us.””
- SupportedThe Friday roundtable focused on business opportunities with Australian agencies and investors in the country’s renewable energy transition.The Age - Latest News: “Friday’s event was held to discuss business opportunities with Australian agencies and both current and potential investors in the country’s renewable energy transition.”
- SupportedAustralia is co-hosting COP31 with Turkey.The Age - Latest News: “the federal government is co-hosting the event with Turkey.”
- SupportedBowen became president of negotiations after Australia lost its bid to host the event in Adelaide.The Age - Latest News: “Bowen has taken on a new role as president of negotiations – a position he secured after Australia lost its bid to host the event in Adelaide.”