Aussie PM Anthony Albanese, Chris Bowen caught on hot mic at COP31 climate summit

Detailed summary

A conversation between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen about phone radiation and "dicks" has been caught on camera on the…

A conversation between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen about phone radiation and "dicks" has been caught on camera on the sidelines of a United Nations conference.

Albanese's office said the pair was sharing a "joke" between meetings, when the exchange was recorded by Australian media at the COP31 climate summit in Antalya, Türkiye.

The comments were captured shortly before a business roundtable spruiking renewable energy transition investment opportunities in Australia.

Cameras were rolling before the event, during which time Albanese and Bowen privately chatted to each other.

Albanese put his phone in his jacket pocket and, as he did so, told Bowen he had heard it was better to store the device away from the heart, because "it can interfere with your rhythm".

Bowen responded, in a joking tone, if it was because the phone was "a little bit radioactive".

Bowen then responded he was more conscious about putting his phone in his pants pocket.

The pair laughed and Bowen agreed, adding it was "arguably more important than the heart".

The exchange, which did not appear to be overheard by anyone in the room, but was captured by a news camera microphone preparing to record the opening remarks at the event, was later broadcast by Channel 7, after it was noticed in production.

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