Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee [Part 2], , 7:35 to 12:55
Discussion continues regarding the confidentiality of the invitation list for the pre-COP event, with officials citing trilateral agreements between Australia, Fiji, and Tuvalu to keep details private despite Australian funding.
Topics: COP31, Diplomatic events, Government spending
Speakers: Senator The Hon Jane Hume, Dr Lauren Bain, Speaker 5, Unknown Speaker, Speaker 1
>> Senator, the principle was it's not an event that is open to all countries. Um the three countries Australia, Tuvalu and Fiji were very careful about who was invited trying to choose maintain a good regional representation of countries that play an important role in the COP 31 process. Um it was always understood between the three three countries that the details of those invitations would remain confidential between the parties.
>> Okay. Was that in writing that you know the details will remain confidential?
>> Uh I would have to take that on notice, Senator. It was certainly a principle of how those invitations were discussed with those other.
>> Okay. Yes. If you could take on notice to provide the document that outlines the principle that these >> Sure. >> the invitation list will remain confidential. Can you tell me what date the invitations were sent?
>> Uh Senator, I'd have to take that on notice. I don't have that precise information.
>> Can you tell me if the letter that invited the world leaders was signed by the prime minister?
>> She's already given that evidence.
>> Yes, it was the prime minister by three
prime min sorry, three leaders.
>> can you tell me how many world leaders responded in the negative to the invitation?
>> It's the same question.
>> Uh, Senator, no, I'm not able to disclose that information.
>> Okay. Um, can you tell me how many didn't respond at all?
>> Uh, Senator, it's same answer, I'm afraid.
>> Can you not tell me because of the protocols? Can you not tell me because you don't know?
>> Senator, we don't disclose the details of of um correspondence in relation to
these matters. Can you tell me whether the prime minister personally followed up any of the invitations?
>> Uh Senator, what I can say is that the prime minister, as you would expect, uh used many of his international engagements to register the invitation and certainly to encourage attendance.
>> You sorry, can you say that again? He used many of his international engagements to register.
>> So the prime minister, as you know, has engaged significantly with international counterparts this year. in many of those meetings um he did use the opportunity to convey the invitation and to follow up on possible attendance.
>> So one-on-one or on mass
>> in senator international engagements
>> well international engagements. So does that mean when I'm sitting opposite the prime minister of a particular country I might say hey did you get my invitation to preop or is it I'm on an international forum um you know on a stage and I say and you're all invited to the preop
>> senator in international engagements with individual countries the prime minister reiterated the invitation
>> okay all right My understanding is that in a press release by you, Minister Wong, in February, there was something that "Australia welcomes Pacific Island Forum announcement that Fiji and Tuplau will bring the world to the Pacific as part of the prec climate events this year. It is an unprecedented opportunity to bring the world to the Pacific to experience climate impacts and solutions firsthand. That's right. That's your media release.
>> I think you that's a question for DEFAD estimates. I'm assuming I didn't issue that as minister representing the prime
>> Okay. Were you aware of the [snorts]
I assume there was consultation, but do I have that top of mind right in this moment in estimates? I'm afraid not.
[snorts] Um if we wanted to find out more about this obviously did um uh the department of environment has said we should ask in forum >> is there somebody else that we should be going to
>> on invitations I don't think that there'll be any difference in the answer
said ask here and you guys are saying we
>> um no I think what the department of environments said is that questions in relation to the invitations are to be addressed to prime minister and cabinet. Questions in relation to the conduct of the event should be addressed to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Is that right? >> That's how I've been briefed. I didn't actually watch it, but that's what I understand. >> Okay. >> So, you're asking the invitation questions in the appropriate part.
>> All right. Okay. So, um can we just use an example? The prime minister of Thailand was supposed to come and he didn't come. Do we know why?
uh Senator um he was regrettably unable to come because Thailand was uh suffered from quite significant flooding uh just in the immediate leadup and that he he conveyed that he was unable to come for that reason.
>> Right. Were there any other sort of last minute cancellations because of issues at home or
>> uh Senator I'd have to take that on
Okay. All right. I don't think we're getting anywhere on this one. I'll have some questions that I will put on notice specifically about this. I have some other questions that I'd like to go to though specifically on
>> So, we might rotate the call and come back to you. That's okay.