Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, , 26:51 to 33:54
Discussion covers catering and reception costs while debating the strategic importance of Pacific regional engagement and climate diplomacy.
Topics: Pacific relations, National security, Travel and event costs
Speakers: Hon Murray Watt, David Higgins, Dean Smith, Hon Sarah Henderson, Unknown Speaker, Mr. David Higgins
can I ask what the cost of catering was
>> Um again catering was was absorbed um in venue costs in the in the main senator. So that's largely included in that that amount that I that I provided.
>> 20 million
>> uh in part in the 20 million and and also in the the $8 million for accommodation and venues.
>> Okay. Can you give me a breakdown though in in general terms? So if catering is paid for out of that 20 million component as well as out of the accommodation component, what roughly are you talking about in terms of
catering costs? I I can take on notice um uh the amounts that that were um potentially allocated for the the sort of day dayto-day catering through the course of the the the meetings if that's useful but I don't have that information in front of me because it was absorbed in the in the larger contract.
>> Sure. But you must know in terms of the breakdown of the contract how that $20 million was spent. Can you please run us through the breakdown of that $20
million? We had contracts in or we had arrangements in place with with venues including the the sheritan where where the principal preop was was held. Um in uh in securing the use of the conference facilities it was that catering was packaged into into that arrangement so that morning tea the provision of afternoon tea the provision of lunch was was included in that package. I I don't have a disagregated amount. It was it was part of the conference package.
>> Okay. So, if morning and afternoon tea and lunch was included in the accommodation package, so that's the the $8.4 million, how much additional money was spent in catering, uh, including alcohol, both out of that package and also the 20 million. Do you have a breakdown for alcohol consumption?
>> I I I don't, Senator. There were um there were two uh events that were held um that the government of Fiji hosted that we we supported. One was a welcome uh event that was hosted by um the Fijian ministers. Um and that uh that uh cost approximately $8,900. I I don't I I don't have an amount for for alcohol. Uh and then there was a um a Thanksgiving reception that the the Fijian Minister for Climate hosted at the Sheran uh that had an estimated cost of around $70,000.
>> For context, Senator, the total catering cost for the G20 in 2014 under Prime Minister Abbott was over $1 million.
You're not suggesting for a second that the G20 and APEC are at the same uh standing as the Fiji and Tivulu conferences, are you Senator? What I >> because how many how many world leaders attended the APEC event? >> And who were they?
>> I think they're all
>> How many attended?
>> I think they're all
>> close to 20.
>> I think they're all important events,
Senator Smith. not of the scale, with all due respect, not of the scale of APE and the G20. >> Um, >> we're talking very different set of circumstances here.
>> I think they are all important events and I can only assume then, Senator Smith, that that's
>> not of the same scale.
>> If I can finish, I can assume I can only assume then, Senator Smith, that that's why the hotel cost for G20 was more than double what was spent on venues and accommodation for this event and why the hotel and accommodation costs for APEC were more than double what was spent.
with your with your comprehensive set of notes minister what you might want to share with us which world leaders >> attended APEC which world leaders attended the conference that we're interrogating
>> I'm happy to get that information for you Senator Smith but I don't think the only
>> the end of today would be very
>> I don't think the only test of whether an event is important or not is how many world leaders attend um I think it is entitled to credibility. >> You're entitled to your view. What our government also thinks is an important test of whether an event is worthwhile is whether it is something that is strongly supported and sought by the leaders in our very region, a region that we have a massive strategic and national security interest in supporting. Um the Pacific uh any leader in the Pacific will tell you that the single biggest challenge they face is climate change and some of us don't want to go back to the days where ministers in a government were making jokes about water lapping at their doors. We actually think those issues are important.
>> I think your ape comparison only takes you a very short distance.
>> Well, as I say, I can
>> only takes you a very short distance.
>> I can only assume that's why I expect
that'll be the last we hear of it. I can
only assume that's why more than double the cost was incurred in hosting APEC and G20. And that's of course in 2007 and 2014.
>> Probably probably four times as many world leaders attended.
>> Well, you might be about to bring
information you might be able to bring that information to the table.
>> You might you might, as I say, you might think what's important is uh numbers of world leaders attending. What our government thinks is important is working with our nearest region where we have a huge national security and strategic interest uh and where the last time the coalition was in power we saw the Solomon Islands sign of security deal with China. We have a different
approach. I suspect, sorry. Okay. Yep. Yep. I suspect the APEC comparison will only take you a very, very short distance and I suspect the criteria for success of the conference has changed when world leaders decided they weren't
going to come. Well, I know the coalition doesn't believe in climate change, has abandoned its commitment to net zero, which means that you've abandoned the Pacific with the greatest concern they have. I was in Papa Newu Guinea last week with other ministers in the annual talks that we have with ministers. The single biggest issue that was being discussed there was the impact of El Nino on Papa New Guinea right now. I saw it for myself. Now the coalition can continue to put its head in the stand if they wish uh and ignore the impacts of climate change and disrespect the Pacific as we saw from numerous coalition figures through prec. That's not what we're going to do as a
>> Minister. Your government is destroying this country with your energy policies.
>> Well, that's your view.
>> And and and Australians are suffering and paying the price. >> So, we're not going to take a lecture because of your shockingly flawed policies.