The COP31 conference in Antalya, running through mid-November 2026, has spotlighted Australia’s near $150 million contribution, including $2.2 million for pavilion hotels, events, and $32,000 in beverages.
Critics highlight the irony as household power bills have risen hundreds of dollars since Labor’s 2021 promise of $275 annual cuts, with no new relief announced.
Opposition figures like Senator Michaelia Cash call the spending tone-deaf, contrasting resort stays with domestic cost-of-living struggles, while the government defends it as key to climate finance and Pacific influence.
