Climate, Energy Department Spends Over $1 Million Sending Officials Overseas in 2 Months

Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW) has spent over $1 million (US$655,000) sending officials abroad in the first two months of the 2025-26 fiscal year.

At a recent Supplementary Budget Estimates hearing, representatives from the department revealed that 64 DCCEEW officials attended 31 international events in 25 countries between July and Aug. 31.

In total, 73 trips were undertaken, with the largest share relating to Antarctic science.

There was an awkward moment when a DCCEEW representative disclosed that the total cost of the overseas trips amounted to $6,845,378.

The figure drew great surprise from those present, prompting a Liberal senator to question the department’s efficient use of public funds.

The DCCEEW quickly admitted that it was a mistake—the figure was the total from the entire previous year—and that the actual current cost was $1,030,814 (about $15,000 per staff member), easing the mood somewhat.

The focus of the hearing then shifted to the Labor government’s preparations to secure Australia’s bid to host the COP31 UN Climate Summit in 2026.

Australia expressed an interest in hosting the event as early as 2022.

While early groundwork and engagement occurred between 2023 and 2024, it was not until 2025 that the Labor government declared its firm commitment to securing the hosting rights for COP31.

During this time, the South Australian government has nominated Adelaide as the host city and allocated $8 million toward preparatory work.

At present, Australia is locked in a competition with Türkiye for the hosting rights, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has flagged possible meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to resolve the issue.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young questioned the DCCEEW about the budget the department has allocated to secure the summit.

In response, Kushla Munro, a DCCEEW deputy secretary, said there was no specific budget.

“We don’t have a specific budget just for securing the COP. There’s a range of preparations underway,” she said.

“So there is an operational division … trying to secure the COP that goes across our negotiations teams and preparations for those sorts of meetings.”

Hanson-Young then asked whether there was a shared responsibility or funding between the DCCEEW and the Department of Foreign Affairs in relation to the government’s COP31 commitment.

While Munro acknowledged the shared responsibility, she was unable to provide information about the budget.

“There’s particular responsibilities that this department has, and also with DFAT, led by the ambassador for climate change in that department,” she said.

“So again, I don’t have the precise figures in terms of [the] budget allocated to secure the COP. But you’re correct. There is a shared responsibility.”