Australia's Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen has been caught on camera appearing to fall asleep during a taxpayer-funded climate summit held at a luxury resort in Fiji.
The event, which carries an estimated cost of $20 million, was organized as a prelude to the United Nations annual COP climate conference scheduled to take place in November.
Cameras captured Bowen closing his eyes multiple times while sitting in the audience at the high-end Pacific resort as speakers addressed delegates.
Sparse attendance at multi-million dollar conference
The Fiji gathering was established as an international pre-COP event ahead of the main United Nations climate summit. The annual COP meetings, organized under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, serve as the principal global diplomatic forum for negotiating international agreements on climate change, greenhouse gas reduction, and renewable energy policy.
While the main COP31 conference will be held in Antalya, Turkey, in November, the Australian government funded millions of dollars in accommodation, event management, and logistics for the preliminary gathering in Fiji.
Australia and its Pacific neighbors had originally submitted a joint bid to host COP31, emphasizing climate vulnerabilities faced by island communities across Oceania. After Turkey defeated the joint Australia-Pacific bid to host the primary COP31 summit, the Fiji talks were agreed upon as a diplomatic compromise, with Australia underwriting the offshore preparatory gathering in the region.
Bowen was expected to address delegates on the need for further electrification across the region. He was set to appear alongside high-profile speakers including former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Organisers had expected around 4,000 climate advocates, bureaucrats, journalists, and officials from international bodies to attend, alongside 14 government leaders or heads of state.
However, despite the $19.8 million price tag for the occasion, only two non-Pacific leaders confirmed their attendance, sending RSVPs from the island nations of Mauritius and Timor-Leste.
Opposition reaction and political backlash
Footage of Bowen appearing to sleep in the audience sparked immediate criticism from political opponents in Australia. The federal opposition targeted both the minister's conduct and the low turnout of international dignitaries.
Speaking to News24, shadow energy minister Dan Tehan mocked Bowen over his appearance at the conference.
Tehan said that Bowen was dreaming of what the meeting might be like if some leaders had turned up.
"He's obviously had a big day. No leaders have turned up so he's been by the pool on the banana lounge sipping a few cocktails," Tehan said.
Tehan added: "You seriously can't make this stuff up, can you? It is beyond farcical."
Tehan, who serves as the shadow minister for energy in Australia's federal parliament, is a senior member of the Liberal-National Coalition opposition. Opposition lawmakers have increasingly scrutinised the Albanese government's environmental spending decisions, energy policies, and overseas diplomatic travel.
The controversy comes as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his government face ongoing domestic scrutiny over public expenditure and federal environmental policy. Under Albanese, the Labor government has made climate action and regional engagement in the Pacific core pillars of its foreign policy.
Luxury resort accommodation contracts disclosed
Government procurement records from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water reveal that federal officials booked rooms across a network of high-end resorts in Fiji. Accommodation contracts alone accounted for more than $5.6 million of the total $19.8 million event cost.
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is the Australian federal ministry responsible for administering national environmental policy, international climate negotiations, and energy market regulation.
The largest single accommodation contract went to Barton Pte Limited, operator of the five-star Sheraton Fiji Golf and Beach Resort on Denarau Island, totaling $2,113,467. The venue features an 18-hole championship golf course, tennis courts, and lagoon-style swimming pools.
Denarau Island is a major tourism and resort hub located on the western coast of Viti Levu, Fiji's main island. Situated near Nadi, the precinct features private marinas, international hotel chains, and major conference facilities catering to luxury travel and international delegations.
Another major contract worth $2,083,706 was awarded to Richmond Pte Limited, which operates the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa alongside the luxury Vatu Tale resort. The Sofitel venue boasts five restaurants serving meals inspired by local and seasonal ingredients from France, Fiji, and the Far East.
Official records show that the department also entered into contracts worth $995,650 split between the four-star Crowne Plaza Fiji and Nadi Bay Resort.
Further spending disclosures listed $172,890 spent at the Wyndham Garden Wailoaloa Beach, $102,749 at Warwick Hotels and Resorts, $94,157 at Tanoa International Hotel, $90,850 at Novotel Nadi, and $19,866 at the Radisson Blu Resort Fiji.
Economic impact and media commentary
The multi-million dollar spending package prompted sharp commentary from media analysts questioning the use of taxpayer funds during a period of economic hardship in Australia.
Daily Mail political editor Peter van Onselen described the spending as a disgrace, criticising the decision to host the warm-up conference abroad rather than domestically.
Peter van Onselen is a prominent Australian political commentator and academic who regularly analyzes federal policy and government expenditure.
"A pre-COP is therefore the conference before the conference, because apparently one enormous international climate talkfest is no longer enough," van Onselen said.
Van Onselen pointed to the financial pressures facing households in Australia while delegates gathered at tropical resorts.
"While Australians battle mortgage stress, soaring grocery bills and crippling energy prices, international bureaucrats will be enjoying five-star beachfront resorts, an 18-hole golf course, wellness facilities, lagoon pools and even an in-house nightclub," he said.
He added that there was more than a whiff of parody in flying scores of delegates to a tropical island to discuss reducing emissions.
Van Onselen noted that the accommodation and venue expenditure would not benefit Australian hotels, conference operators, or tourism workers.
"Had the event been held here, the government could at least argue that the money would circulate through the domestic economy," van Onselen said.
"Instead, Australian taxpayers are underwriting an offshore warm-up meeting, the economic benefits of which flow to Fiji and the actual conference will be held in Turkey."
