Can I get a flat white and a serve of ‘engagement’? Chris Bowen’s $32k taxpayer-funded coffee shop a window into how politicians actually think about your money: PVO

Australia’s energy department has awarded a contract worth more than $32,000 for coffee services at the Australian Pavilion and Delegation Office during the COP31 climate summit in Turkey. The article argues that using public money for delegates’ refreshments is hard to justify, particularly when households are facing cost pressures and the government is responsible for energy policy.

The department reportedly described free coffee as an “engagement tool”, framing it as soft diplomacy. At an assumed $5 per cup, $32,000 would cover about 6,400 coffees; the article questions whether the service is necessary or likely to improve negotiations. It also argues that individually small expenses still merit scrutiny as part of wider public spending.