On September 11, 2015, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton was recorded making a joke about rising sea levels threatening Pacific island nations during a conversation with Prime Minister Tony Abbott [1].
The conversation unfolded as follows:
- Dutton remarked that a meeting was running to "Cape York time" [1]
- Abbott replied: "We had a bit of that up in Port Moresby" [1]
- Dutton then quipped: "Time doesn't mean anything when you're about to have water lapping at your door" [1]
- Both men laughed before Social Services Minister Scott Morrison pointed out there was a boom microphone recording the conversation [1]
The incident received widespread coverage from mainstream Australian media including ABC News, SBS, and Fairfax media [1][2][3].
The joke occurred in the context of the Pacific Islands Forum, where leaders from low-lying nations had been campaigning for stronger Australian action on climate change [1].
The immediate political context:** The joke was made during a meeting where Pacific Island leaders, including Kiribati President Anote Tong, had just urged Australia to commit to stronger emissions reductions and consider stopping new coal mine construction [1].
Australia's foreign affairs department notes ongoing "real and significant climate action" partnerships with Pacific countries, including climate change and resilience programs [5].
**3.
Dutton's response:** When questioned, Dutton refused to answer questions about the remark, stating only "I had a private conversation with the Prime Minister" [1].
Abbott's defense:** Prime Minister Abbott defended Dutton, stating he should be remembered instead for his work on refugee resettlement, having "masterminded the plan to bring 12,000 needy people to this country" [2].
The nature of the joke:** The quip combined a reference to "Cape York time" (suggesting delays in remote areas) with the serious threat of sea level rise facing Pacific nations.
Cape York traditional owner Gerhardt Pearson criticized this as representing "soft bigotry and low expectations" that harked back to colonial-era attitudes [1].
The specific article includes direct quotes from multiple sources including:
- Kiribati President Anote Tong
- Marshall Islands Foreign Minister Tony de Brum
- Cape York traditional owner Gerhardt Pearson
- Labor Senator Nova Peris
- Opposition Leader Bill Shorten
- Prime Minister Tony Abbott
The reporting is corroborated by multiple other mainstream Australian media outlets including SBS News, Sydney Morning Herald, and Guardian Australia [1][2][3][4].
**Did Labor do something similar?**
Search conducted: "Labor government Pacific islands climate change comments controversy"
Finding: While Labor governments have not had equivalent recorded incidents of making dismissive jokes about climate threats to Pacific nations, there are relevant comparative points:
**1.
* * * *
Climate policy approach:** The Rudd and Gillard Labor governments (2007-2013) generally maintained stronger rhetorical commitments to climate action than the Abbott/Turnbull/Morrison Coalition governments.
Labor implemented carbon pricing and more aggressive emissions reduction targets, which aligned more closely with Pacific island nation priorities [6].
**2.
Current Labor climate-migration policy:** The Albanese Labor government (elected 2022) signed the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union agreement in November 2023 - described as "the world's first bilateral agreement to create a special visa" for climate-related migration [7].
Historical context:** Both major Australian parties have struggled with the tension between domestic climate politics and Pacific island relationships.
The Coalition's 2015 position of rejecting Pacific calls for stronger emissions targets was consistent with their domestic policy platform, while Labor's subsequent climate-migration agreement represents a different approach to the same underlying issue.
**Key distinction:** While Labor has not had equivalent "gaffes" recorded, the substantive policy differences between the parties on climate change and Pacific relations are significant.
**The incident was widely condemned as insensitive:**
President Anote Tong, responding more in "sadness than anger," stated Dutton showed "a sense of moral irresponsibility quite unbecoming of leadership in any capacity" [1].
He warned that future Australian immigration ministers would have to deal with waves of Pacific climate refugees if sea levels continued to rise, stating "the science is quite categorical" [1].
Labor leader Bill Shorten called it a "bad joke by a minister who is a bad joke" and stated "the fact that the Prime Minister is laughing along with it reminds me of what Barack Obama said: any leader who doesn't take climate change seriously is not fit to lead" [2].
**Counterpoint - Government perspective:**
The Coalition government's position was that their 26-28% emissions reduction target by 2030 (on 2005 levels) was "strong, responsible and achievable" [10].
However, the incident occurred against a backdrop where Australia had just rejected Pacific leaders' specific requests for stronger climate action, including calls to stop new coal mine construction [4].
The joke reinforced a perception that Coalition leaders did not take Pacific climate concerns seriously.
**Comparative context:** This incident is unique in being caught on microphone, but reflects broader tensions in Australia-Pacific climate relations that have persisted across governments.
The Coalition's weaker climate stance and coal-friendly policies created ongoing friction with Pacific neighbors, while Labor has subsequently taken steps to repair these relationships through the Tuvalu climate-migration agreement.
Peter Dutton did make a recorded joke about Pacific island nations facing rising sea levels from climate change, and both he and Prime Minister Tony Abbott laughed.
The comment - "Time doesn't mean anything when you're about to have water lapping at your door" - was widely reported by mainstream media and condemned by Pacific leaders including Kiribati President Anote Tong.
The incident occurred in September 2015 during Pacific Islands Forum discussions where Australia had declined requests for stronger climate action [1][2][3].
Peter Dutton did make a recorded joke about Pacific island nations facing rising sea levels from climate change, and both he and Prime Minister Tony Abbott laughed.
The comment - "Time doesn't mean anything when you're about to have water lapping at your door" - was widely reported by mainstream media and condemned by Pacific leaders including Kiribati President Anote Tong.
The incident occurred in September 2015 during Pacific Islands Forum discussions where Australia had declined requests for stronger climate action [1][2][3].