Chris Bowen bills taxpayers an eyewatering sum for climate change trip to the ... trends now
Chris Bowen billed taxpayers $20,000 for a week-long trip to the United States - despite a similar journey by Treasurer Jim Chalmers costing just $2,000.
The Climate Change and Energy Minister travelled to New York, Pittsburgh and Washington from September 18 to 25, 2022, at a total cost to the taxpayer of $20,312.
Those costs appear to be almost entirely comprised of airfares, with Mr Bowen also claiming just $2.20 for employee international travel costs.
Mr Bowen spruiked the trip as an opportunity to discuss Australia's climate targets on the world stage. He met with Bill Gates, Al Gore and drove an electric Ford F-150.
In all, Mr Bowen spent $269,997 in the final quarter of 2022 - $77,600 of which was travel costs for 12 employees.
A spokesperson for Mr Bowen told Daily Mail Australia: 'Parliamentarians are able to access travel, including flights and COMCAR for their parliamentary business, in accordance with the relevant rules and guidelines.'
Mr Bowen spruiked the five-day trip as an opportunity to discuss Australia's climate targets on a global scale. He met with Bill Gates , Al Gore and drove an electric Ford F-150 (above)
According to Mr Bowen's diary, he enjoyed a 30-minute meeting with billionaire Mr Gates amid the three conferences he attended.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers went on a similar trip - the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action - the following month.
Over five days, from October 11 to 16, 2022, Dr Chalmers billed the taxpayer a relatively modest $2,295 - $1,859 for an employee's travel, a $378 ministerial allowance and $22 for passport costs.
The revelation of Mr Bowen's surprisingly high claim comes as politicians face increased scrutiny for their taxpayer-funded expenses - all taken from the government's array of taxes and excises which are hurting Australians struggling the soaring cost of living.
One of the top parliamentary spenders of the final 2022 quarter was Resources Minister and Minister for Northern Australia Madeleine King.
Ms King spent $386,262 in total from October to December 2022, placing fifth in total spending behind Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, Health Minister Mark Butler and NDIS Minister Bill Shorten.
Her employee travel costs totalled $203,898 for the quarter, while a five-day trip to Japan in November set the taxpayer back $20,334.
