Australian news and politics live updates: Chris Bowen hits back after $150m COP spending questioned

Chris Bowen has refused to let major emitters off the hook amid questions over BHP and delayed emissions reduction projects, making clear the government still expects Australia’s biggest polluters to cut carbon output on site.

While stopping short of directly criticising the mining giant, Mr Bowen signalled companies remained under scrutiny as Labor prepares a broader review of safeguard rules.

“I let my expectations be crystal clear publicly and privately,” Mr Bowen said, noting BHP remained covered by safeguard mechanism laws.

“I want to see all large emitters reducing emissions on site.”

While acknowledging some industries faced technological and commercial hurdles, Mr Bowen said the coming safeguards review would be genuine and open to submissions before any future changes were considered.

Chris Bowen has seized on fresh energy price data to argue Labor’s transition is beginning to deliver results, pointing to reductions across several states and framing cheaper power as proof the renewable rollout is gaining traction.

The Energy Minister acknowledged households were still under pressure but said batteries and renewable generation were helping reduce dependence on expensive coal and gas, particularly during evening demand peaks.

“It’s no coincidence,” Mr Bowen said, linking lower prices to rising renewable penetration and more than 414,000 home batteries installed under the government’s scheme.

“One of the biggest impacts on energy prices is those nighttime peaks.”

He argued storing solar power for evening use was helping “flatten out that nighttime peak and reduce prices” and declared: “That is, the system working.”

Mr Bowen conceded “there’s a long way to go” but said the government’s energy strategy was “showing dividends for the Australian people.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has released a statement confirming seven women and 12 children with links to Islamic State fighters have made plans to travel to Australia.

Mr Burke confirmed that the Australian Government did not provide any assistance to this group and that any members of the ISIS-linked group who had committed crimes could expect to face the full force of the law.

“These are people who have made the horrific choice to join a dangerous terrorist organisation and to place their children in an unspeakable situation,” he said.

“Our world-class law enforcement and intelligence agencies have been preparing for their return since 2014 and have long-standing plans in place to manage and monitor them.

“The priority of the government, as always, is the safety of the Australian community.”

The fight over Labor’s proposed changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing is heating up, with Energy Minister Chris Bowen rejecting claims the government is rushing the reforms through parliament.

Speaking on Sunrise, Mr Bowen was forced to defend the timing of the legislation and argued the changes were necessary to improve fairness, particularly for younger Australians, while leaving the door open to further consultation.

“Well, I don’t agree we’re rushing it through,” Mr Bowen told Sunrise.

“This is standard practice for tax reform and this is big tax reform, necessary tax reform for fairness for young Australians in particular.

“Overwhelmingly, the feedback to me in my electorate has been positive.”

Mr Bowen would not rule out refinements to the package, which is tied to the $250 Working Australians Tax Offset, insisting consultation remained part of the process.

“Well, as the PM has made clear, there’ll be two tranches of legislation where we put the principles in place,” Mr Bowen said.

“And then there’s always finer implementation details.”

“I mean, there’s tax laws passed through parliament every single sitting day, which are changing things, tweaking things, taking on board consultation.”

A fresh political fight has erupted over the cost of Australia’s climate diplomacy, with Energy Minister Chris Bowen defending spending tied to the nation’s Conference of the Parties presidency and rejecting Coalition criticism as politically motivated.

Scrutiny intensified after budget estimates revealed a broader $150 million allocation linked to COP and Pacific engagement, prompting Bowen to argue Australia was investing in a role that would elevate its influence on the global stage.

“These things do cost money. It cost money when John Howard chaired APEC, it costs money when Tony Abbott chaired G20, they were good for the country and the Labor Party supported them, because we’re a patriotic party,” Mr Bowen told ABC AM.

“So this is an opportunity for Australia to play an outsized role in the climate negotiations”.

“Obviously, this is a 12-month presidency, most of the money has not been spent … this is very good value for money for Australia, and I think it just goes to show how out of touch with climate reality and geopolitical essentials the modern Liberal Party has become.”

Mr Bowen said only $50m was directly tied to his COP presidency, part of a larger Pacific engagement package, before accusing Opposition energy spokesman Dan Tehan of “lying” about the cost and escalating the clash further by declaring: “The very existence of some Pacific countries is at stake. We care about that. The Liberal Party does not.”

A second cohort of Australian women and children linked to ISIS are expected to return to Sydney and Melbourne in a matter of hours.

The group comprises of six women and 14 children, with the majority understood to be on a connecting flight from Doha Airport due to land in Sydney about 5.30pm on Tuesday, The Daily Telegraph reports.

They departed al-Roj internment camp on Friday by bus and later reached Damascus, before acquiring plane tickets to begin their journey home.

Save the Children, a prominent advocate for the repatriation of the group, welcomed news of their arrival.

“These innocent children have endured years in dangerous and unstable conditions, and we have held serious concerns for their safety and wellbeing,” Save the Children Australia chief executive Mat Tinkler said.

“The political debate surrounding their future in Australia has been deeply disappointing.

“As Australian citizens, it was always a matter of ‘when’ these women and children came home, not ‘if’.

“While much attention has focused on the circumstances of the mothers, two-thirds of the returning group are children.”

He said Australia must prioritise the children’s “safety, wellbeing and right to live in this country as Australian citizens”.

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