Albanese apologises for hot-mic remarks at climate talks

Anthony Albanese has apologised for a hot-mic exchange, a case of a microphone left switched on and picking up a private conversation, at the UN climate talks in Turkey. "I of course regret that. I apologise," he said on Sunday during a visit to HMAS Stalwart, an Australian warship, in the Philippines, according to The Guardian.

The overheard conversation was between Albanese and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen, ahead of a meeting at the Cop31 climate summit in Antalya on Friday. It was about which pocket to keep a mobile phone in. The pair discussed claims that phones can interfere with heart rhythm and are "a little bit radioactive".

Albanese asked Bowen "Because of your dick?" after Bowen said he avoided putting his phone in his pants pocket. Bowen replied "Arguably more important than the heart."

Albanese described the exchange as private, light-hearted banter between friends that criticised no one. "No one was hurt or harmed," he said. A spokesperson for the prime minister called it "a joke in between meetings", and Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth dismissed the criticism in similar terms.

Opposition frontbencher James Paterson said the remarks were unfortunate locker-room talk and inappropriate for an international summit.

Albanese is in the Philippines for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit and related meetings, including with US President Donald Trump. He was scheduled to hold formal bilateral talks with Filipino President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr on Sunday.