'No one was hurt': PM apologises for hot-mic banter

Résumé détaillé

Anthony Albanese says he regrets comments he made during a jokey conversation with Chris Bowen at the COP31 summit, which have attracted criticism.

The prime minister has apologised for joking comments caught on a live mic during a global summit after they were criticised as hurting Australia's standing on the world stage.

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.

Speaking to reporters in Manila ahead of the ASEAN summit, a smiling prime minister said he regretted the comments and apologised for making them while downplaying their significance.

"This was a private conversation, we thought, between two friends having a bit of light-hearted banter," he said on Sunday.

"No one was hurt or harmed, we weren't having private banter which criticised anyone."

The off-the-cuff conversation between the cabinet members earlier came under fire from the opposition, with frontbencher James Paterson saying the remarks were unfortunate and did not create a good impression for Australia.

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