Blue banter between PM and minister caught on hot mic

By Catherine Bouris and Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson in Sydney

Environment Minister Murray Watt has defended Anthony Albanese after the prime minister was recorded privately joking about phones and penises at COP31.

Anthony Albanese was caught out in a hot-mic moment, joking about phone radiation and penises with Energy Minister Chris Bowen at the COP31 climate summit.

The exchange between the prime minister and Mr Bowen was recorded as the pair waited for a roundtable discussion to begin in Antalya, Turkey.

A clip of the private banter was initially broadcast by Channel Seven on Friday evening.

“Do you keep your phone here? Don’t,” Mr Albanese asked Mr Bowen, gesturing to his left breast pocket and kicking off a back-and-forth about the potential impact of mobile phones on the body, including the heart’s rhythm.

“I’m more conscious … I’ve stopped putting it in my pants pocket,” Mr Bowen began before Mr Albanese interrupted.

“Because of your d***,” the prime minister said.

“It’s rather important, arguably more important than the heart,” Mr Bowen replied as the pair laughed.

Environment Minister Murray Watt came to the prime minister’s defence at a press conference in Brisbane on Saturday, telling reporters the conversation was not serious.

“This is really just about people having a joke in between meetings,” Mr Watt said.

Researchers have found mobile phone radiation can have a negative impact on testosterone levels and sperm motility and a potential impact on cardiac activity and cardiovascular disease, primarily in people with existing conditions.

Australia’s climate record came under fire for a second day at COP31 on Friday, with calls for the country to phase out fossil fuels and move faster to address climate change.

The criticism came as Mr Albanese met with Pacific leaders and urged other countries and philanthropists to invest in projects to protect vulnerable island nations from the impacts of global warming.

The Pacific Resilience Facility, set up to fund climate adaptation projects for the nations, reached a $293 million funding milestone at the event, helped by its first philanthropic donation.

The prime minister followed the event with a pitch to international investors, spruiking Australia’s renewable energy innovations.

Australia is leading negotiations at the annual summit but has faced criticism from Swedish activist Greta Thunberg over the pace of its climate action.

Environmental groups including Greenpeace have attacked the nation over its failure to name fossil fuels as the cause of climate change.

Asked about Ms Thunberg’s criticism, Mr Albanese defended Australia’s policies and cited its target to reduce emissions by 43 per cent by 2030.

“She’s entitled to her views,” he said.

He also defended his decision not to mention fossil fuels in his opening address to the leaders’ summit segment of COP31, saying he wanted to direct focus to the needs of Pacific nations.

Mr Watt insisted the government’s involvement in the conference was in the country’s best interests.

“I know there’s been a lot of criticism from some quarters about every aspect of this COP but the reality is that participating in and, in fact, leading the discussions at COP is in Australia’s national interest,” he said.

The Pacific Resilience Facility roundtable at the event attracted representatives from nations including France, Spain, Sweden and Qatar, and heard Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr call for more funding rather than more promises.

Mining billionaire and Minderoo Foundation co-founder Andrew Forrest announced a $US5 million investment in the facility at the event and called for more local companies to invest in technology to end fossil fuel use.