Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, , 9:25 to 12:51
Senator Henderson questions the department on the total $34.6 million expenditure for the pre-COP 31 event held in Fiji and Tuvalu.
Topics: Government spending, COP31
Speakers: Hon Sarah Henderson, David Higgins, Mr Mike Kaiser, Mr. David Higgins
>> Uh, chair, thank you very much. Look, before I ask my questions, can I just associate um ourselves on behalf of the coalition with your remarks in relation to Dr. Helen Haines? Uh we're all very distressed of course by what has happened. Um she is someone who is a woman of great integrity. Um much admired in the parliament and in her community and our thoughts and prayers are with her as she continues her Uh Mr. Kaiser, I want to start and good morning to you all uh to you minister. I'd like to start by tableabling my letter to you of the 20th of October 2026. Uh this is a letter which uh puts you on notice in relation to the subject matters that we are seeking to ask you about. I did raise concerns that there was some ducking and weaving in the last estimates particularly on the COP costs and so I appreciate you've started in your opening statement today with a a a strong statement about uh about that matter but obviously we are we have put you on notice that we would like to ensure that all um information including as to costs operational expenditure um is available. Thank you. Uh can I you've you've given us an outline about the uh the some of the resources that went into preop. Uh could you please start by giving us the costs? What did preop 31 in Fiji and Tvalu toualoo actually cost overall?
>> Uh yeah cher the assistance of some other officers for that. Um, there was, as I mentioned in my opening statement, there was a cost associated with event management of $20 million, but that wasn't the only cost.
>> And what were the $20 million exactly, was it?
>> Uh, no, we'll leave I'll ask my colleagues to elaborate. It was approximately $20 million. I I mentioned that figure because it's a figure that was mentioned in the media and I wanted to characterize it accurately, but not suggest that it was the only cost.
>> And what were the other costs? But we're
about to hear that from Mr. Higgins.
>> Good morning, uh, senators. David Higgins, head of division international climate and energy. Um, thank you for the question, Senator. Um, so, um, to date, um, we have contracted commitments associated with, um, pre-OP delivery of $34.6 um that constitutes the significant majority of of costs associated with the the preop. Um but it is um these are contracts um in the main structured on a usage basis. So that that is the out of bound associated with the cost associated with those contracts. The the the final acquitted amounts will be somewhat less than that we we expect. Um but the acquid processes the the reconciliation processes are are ongoing. Um there are
>> Can I ask for a breakdown, Mr. Higgins, of that $34.6 million?
>> Certainly. So
>> is that in addition to the $20 million that Mr.
>> Ka inclusive of the 20 million?
>> Inclusive of the 20 million. So $34.6 million in total. Could you give me the breakdown, please?