Neither Greg Hunt nor Julie Bishop will be at vital talks in Warsaw next week, breaking tradition going back to 1997

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

Australia will have no government minister at the main United Nations climate negotiations next week, for the first time since the Kyoto accord in 1997.

Diplomat Justin Lee, Australia’s ambassador for climate change, will represent the country at international talks in Poland, which are seen as vital to laying the groundwork for a global agreement to cut carbon emissions.

Government ministers typically attend the final days of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change annual meetings. But neither Hunt, foreign minister Julie Bishop nor their parliamentary secretaries will travel to the Warsaw talks, which conclude on 22 November.

A spokesman for the environment minister, Greg Hunt, told Guardian Australia he would be “honouring the election promise of introducing the carbon tax repeal as the first item of legislative business” when parliament resumes next week.

"Minister Hunt indicated a month ago at the Sustainable Business Australia forum that he will be fully engaged in repealing the carbon tax during the first two weeks of parliament," he said.

Hunt’s spokesman said the climate talks were under the remit of the Department of Foreign Affairs, representing a break from the usual practice of environment ministers attending the summits. Bishop will be attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka, which partially overlaps the climate change talks.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed Lee would be the senior representative.

"It is not unusual for countries’ delegations to be led by officials,” she said.

There is confusion over what Australia’s approach to climate talks will be, after the government cancelled the traditional briefings given to businesses, diplomats and environmental organisations before the gathering.

Australia chairs the “umbrella group” of nations, a negotiating bloc that includes the US, Japan and Norway. Hunt said on Thursday Australia would look to forge a “deep, strong international agreement”.

Asked what Australia's contribution would be to an agreed $100bn climate change mitigation fund, to be given by wealthy nations to developing countries, the foreign affairs spokeswoman said: “The Australian government is currently considering budget and funding priorities, including for its foreign aid program. The government will consider any future climate finance contributions in due course.”

Kevin Rudd, in his first spell as prime minister, attended the UN climate talks in 2007 to ratify Australia’s commitment to the Kyoto protocol, which fixed obligations on industrialised countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Since 2007, a succession of ministers, including Penny Wong, Greg Combet and Mark Dreyfus, have represented Australia at the annual summit.

Under John Howard the environment minister headed every delegation, with Ian Campbell, David Kemp and Robert Hill representing Australia at meetings back to 1997.

The chief executive of the Climate Institute, John Connor, told Guardian Australia the absence of a government minister sent a “very unusual signal” to the rest of the world.

“It certainly reduces Australia’s power and influence at the meeting,” he said. “I had hoped at least a parliamentary secretary would attend.

“It’s key that two things are maintained – Australia’s 25% emission reduction target and the Kyoto ratification. The key question in Warsaw will be the timelines on these things. We don’t want a repeat of the situation where we keep our cards close to our chest until five minutes after midnight, but the Coalition’s timetable seems to have them headed that way.”

The Greens deputy leader, Adam Bandt, said the decision not to send a minister to the talks was "appalling."

“Instead of sitting in his office reading Wikipedia, Greg Hunt should be in Warsaw tackling global warming and talking to the world’s experts on climate change,” Bandt said.

“Action speaks louder than words and once again the climate denialism of the Abbott government is clear from their inaction.

“It is understandable that the minister feels embarrassed by the Abbott government’s position on climate change, but this should be no excuse. He should be in Warsaw to face the music.”

The 2015 climate talks, to be held in Paris, have been earmarked as the moment when countries will finally overcome several false starts – most notably in Copenhagen in 2009 – to lay down an effective agreement to reduce emissions.

“Going by the submissions from the US and elsewhere, countries want a timeline and the groundwork done in Warsaw and in 2014,” Connor said. “If Australia isn’t doing its fair share, there will be huge question marks hanging over us. That’s not a gamble we should be taking.”