‘Don’t interrupt me’: Environment Minister Tim Ayres and Sarah Henderson clash over COP
Environment Minister Tim Ayres has criticized the Coalition for its “obsession” with COP31 after his department was criticized by a Liberal senator at the climate conference.
Labor has faced scrutiny after Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen was appointed as COP31’s chief negotiator last month, following a long and unsuccessful fight to secure Türkiye’s hosting bid.
The coalition was particularly critical of Mr Bowen’s appointment; leader Sussan Ley accused him of turning into a “part-time” minister, a claim Mr Bowen denied.
The Opposition Leader has previously labeled Australia’s bid to host the COP as a misalignment of priorities.
Appearing before the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee on Monday, department officials were grilled by Liberal senator Sarah Henderson on issues related to the conference.
When division secretary Mike Kaiser was asked how many division staff attended this year’s conference, Kaiser could not answer, saying it was beyond the scope of corporate matters.
He said that the officials who provided relevant information would be present approximately half an hour later at 9.30 in the morning, in accordance with the day’s agenda.
Environment Minister Tim Ayres stepped in to clarify Mr Kaiser’s comments, saying: “What the secretary does is show you which parts of your questions he can deal with now and which he can deal with in a few minutes.”
Senator Henderson asked the same question repeatedly before Senator Ayres intervened, prompting the Liberal to jeer: “Minister, I don’t need your help.”
Mr. Ayres said, “Wait a second. I have the right, I have to, to answer when it is my job to answer.” “I don’t need a sarcastic remark about whether you need my help or not.”
He later added: “Perhaps, Senator, Mr. Kaiser and his staff may have information consistent with the information you have requested. And (if) it is available now, no doubt, if that is the case, they will provide it to the best of their ability.”
“The conference that you and some (though not all) of your colleagues are so obsessed with may still be being reconciled.
“Therefore, these figures may not be available.
“It is not possible to go and collect all kinds of receipt stubs.”
Senator Henderson then interrupted him, prompting him to say: “Don’t interrupt me, Senator, I’m answering your question.
“Don’t interrupt like you did before.
“I’ve been here for 21 minutes, you’ve spoken in an exaggerated manner, secretary.”
Both politicians spoke animatedly to each other before Senate President Varun Ghosh intervened demanding that Senator Ayres be given a chance to respond to Sarah Henderson’s descriptions of the department.
“If the information you are seeking is actually available in a format that can be provided and it is available to the Minister and his team… then of course they will have to take that into consideration,” Senator Ayres said. ”There will be more additional forecasts at the beginning of next year, so there will be no bending and weaving.
“There is no need to characterize the officials’ statements in this way.
“All of this information will be provided in the normal course of events.”
