Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has been caught on tape joking with Prime Minister Tony Abott ahead of a meeting in Canberra on Friday. Though the conversation seemed to consist of light banter between the two politicians, the joke that was shared between them was considered as offensive by many.
While speaking to the prime minister, who has just returned from talks about climate change with Pacific Island leaders in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Dutton remarked that the day's meeting on Syrian refugees was running on "Cape York Time," according to ABC News.
Since the meeting was running late, Abott lightly replied, "We had a bit of that up in Port Moresby."
Dutton then jokingly responded to the Prime Minister's quip, stating that "time doesn't mean anything when you're about to have water lapping at your door."
Both politicians then shared a laugh after. Social Services Minister Scott Morrison, who was with the men, the pointed out that there was a boom mike overhead, recording their conversation. The immigration minister and the prime minister stiffened up considerably after, reports The International Business Times.
The light exchange has garnered a lot of criticism from party leaders in the country, with Larissa Waters, deputy leader of the Australian Greens party, stating: "What we've seen today is raw contempt for the survival and safety of our Pacific Island neighbors and our own coastal communities. We're talking about peoples' lives, and this government is laughing."
Representatives from the nonprofit 350 Pacific have taken the exchange as a grave offense, demanding the resignation of the immigration minister and a sincere apology from the prime minister.
"Climate change is a daily reality for us in the Islands and climate inaction from countries such as Australia is only worsening that reality," said Koreti Tiumalu, Coordinator for 350 Pacific.
"We request that Minister Dutton resigns and that Tony Abbott issues an official apology to all Pacific Islanders. We also hope that Australia will offer proper support for and recognition of the impacts that your climate inaction is having upon our culture and out livelihood."
Watch the Immigration Minister and the Prime Minister's conversation here.
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