'Locker-room talk': PM criticised for hot-mic moment

Detailed summary

Anthony Albanese and Chris Bowen have come under fire for jokes recorded at the COP31 summit, which the opposition says were not a good look on the world stage.

A moment of "locker room" banter captured on a hot mic at a global climate summit has been criticised as hurting the prime minister's global standing.

Anthony Albanese was recorded speaking to Energy Minister Chris Bowen while waiting for a round-table discussion to begin at the UN's COP31 climate summit in Turkey.

"Do you keep your phone here? Don't," Mr Albanese said while pointing to his breast pocket ahead of an event to pitch renewable energy investment opportunities in Australia.

"I'm more conscious ... I've stopped putting it in my pants pocket," Mr Bowen began before Mr Albanese interrupted.

"It's rather important, arguably more important than the heart," Mr Bowen replied as the pair laughed.

The off-the-cuff conversation between the cabinet members has come under fire from the opposition.

Frontbencher James Paterson said the remarks were unfortunate and did not create a good impression for Australia on the world stage.

"That locker-room talk like that has a time and a place and it's not at international summits when you're the prime minister of Australia talking to your energy minister," he told News24 on Sunday.

"If you want to engage in that kind of banter, do it at a private barbecue, not before the assembled media at an international conference.

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