KEVIN RUDD’S post-election visit to the Bali climate change conference to announce that Australia would ratify the Kyoto Protocol cost taxpayers more than $530,000.
The cost of taking the Prime Minister, five ministers and dozens of advisers and officials to the conference in December has been revealed in response to questions asked by the Opposition Senate leader, Nick Minchin.
The Sydney Morning Herald: Rudd’s Kyoto team trip to Bali cost $500,000
Russ says
Did the story include the costs of the carbon offsets that Australia will buy? What a joke!
Hasbeen says
Rudd is an applause junky, & is going to spend a great deal more of our money to get it from the supporters of every trendy cause in the country.
May the lord help us, because this bloke certainly wont.
spangled drongo says
Tip of the iceberg. That trip will cost us billions.
He doesn’t believe in it but as you say, Hasbeen, he wallows in the kudos.
Schiller Thurkettle says
Anyone with weak morals, a taste for fame, and a love of luxury would of course succumb to the offer of such a generous junket.
All you have to do is say alarming things, and your ticket is stamped.
Rudd should bring Travis along for the ride.
Global-warmers love talking to each other, especially on such generous terms. Talking to the non-global warmers would be a bum trip.
Besides, it would cost too much, and be counterproductive for “the faithful” to put 31,072 American scientists against AGW on planes.
http://motls.blogspot.com/2008/05/31072-american-scientists-against-agw.html
http://www.petitionproject.org/
Oh, goodness! Did someone say, “consensus”?
Alarmist Creep says
So Schiller what does it cost every time the US president goes for a trip?
Alarmist Creep says
And how much to host APEC which remind me – did what again? What was that last PM’s name. Can’t remember.
Wes George says
Ah, you blokes are just pissed you weren’t invited. I would have accepted an invite faster than you can say Gorebull Warming! As long as the flight was business class or better. I heard there was quite a bit of hanky panky going on too, after hours. You know, the wanna-go-to-my-room-and-check-out-my-Power Point-presentation line.
Me carbon footprint be damned!
Alarmist Creep says
Was that the rumour about the denialist’s group attending (aka the stunt) – the hanky panky? You know what they’re like Wes.
Wes George says
And another thing. Did anyone else find it ironic that they choose a tropical paradise for the conference, the stated goal of which was to make sure that such balmy climes don’t expand their boundaries?
I know, I know, AGW means doomsday, not extensions of tropical paradise to temperate climes.
So why didn’t they have the conference at a more prescient location, perhaps Cooper Pedy???
Wes George says
Yeah, creepy, good point.
Where was the chaser’s war-on-everything in Bali????
They sure thought APEC was a laugh a minute when PM, what’s-his-name, was in charge of the show.
Bali had me in stitches too, who needs Roy and HR?
I suppose the ABC was too busy lending credibility to Bali to let loose the chaser boys on the mob demagogues and their sycophantic technocrats manipulating the public with “the politics of fear.”
After all we got a Code Red Climate alert goin’ on! Sound the sirens! Hockey Stick Doomsday directly ahead. Hard to the port, mates!
Alarmist Creep says
Nah – it had to be Bali – as Indonesia – potential significant GHG source and sink – they wanted a turn. And war on terror – prestige – keeping them happy etc etc.
But the circus (and it was) is simply a reflection of the way all this international business is done these days – has to have some degree of security, enough hotels, everyone wants a turn. You want to have your bright sparks and policy wallas there too.
But why stop at Bali, there’s APEC, or Davos – there’s heaps of mega meetings on all manner of stuff. Now stockpiling for the Olympics screwing up the global fuel price. What a waste of money the Olympics is. Simply all for glory and kudos.
Then there was Johnny running a house in Sydney and one in Canberra.
But Wes – you are close to a solution – move the meeting to Mt Isa – jet airport already, far from terrorists, dignitaries could be safe from stray bombs and hot weather in underground bunkers (old mine shafts). Make that a permanent home for international AGW negotiations.
cinders says
What was the cost and who paid for the delegation from the Greens political party and all the ENGO staffers and lobbyists who had such a great time in Bali. Who is going to pay for all the GHG emissions made during their trips to this holiday location. It was nice to see Al Gore turn up in his enviromentally friendly form of transport.
Hasbeen says
Don’t you worry about the Olympics, Creep. You can bet your boots that KRudd will find a way to get there to claim some of the applause earned by others.
Wes George says
Cinders asks rhetorically, I assume:
…who paid for the delegation from the Greens political party and all the ENGO staffers and lobbyists who had such a great time in Bali…?
Well, obviously, the lion’s share was paid by those most opposed to the Greens’ agenda.
Travis says
Wow Schiller, I can’t recall ever commenting here on AGW, and yet now I am to accompany our PM to climate conferences. You really do live in la la land.
Green Davey Gam Esq. says
Bali was very suitable for a climate debate, since the Indonesian region is a major centre for the seismic/volcanic activity which is, I strongly suspect, a significant driver of world climate. Think of plumes of warm water moving east across the Pacific, and west across the Indian Ocean. Think of tsunamis off Sumatra and earthquakes in China. What say, Alarming Luke? Have your models allowed for this? It’s known as the Central Lunatic Theorem.
Alarmist Creep says
Well Davey yes they have. As you would know the valve throttling effect of Indonesian flow through, creates harmonic suction which neutralises such incidental phenomena. Also interestingly, a recent analysis of some of these plumes has identified them as wee from discharges dating back to Bali itself.
Alarmist Creep says
Travis – don’t lie – we know you call the PM Kevie – we saw you at his reception sucking up as usual.
Travis says
Sorry Alarmsky, thanks to participating here, one of the very best environmental blogs in the world, I am accustomed to lying and sucking up.
Green Davey Gam Esq. says
Thanks Alarmist Luke,
I was discussing this with Dr Bernouilli, only the other day. He said he was under pressure to give an opinion to the IPCC. I recommended you as a relevant expert. Has he contacted you yet?