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Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has kicked off question time by attacking the “part-time energy minister” Chris Bowen in a continuation of yesterday’s strategy after Bowen was appointed the president of negotiations for the COP climate summit next year.

“Firstly, welcome back to Australia,” Ley said to Bowen, who missed the last two days of question time while in Brazil for this year’s COP.

“How many days of parliament will the part-time energy minister miss of parliament in 2026, and what will be the cost to Australian taxpayers?” Ley asked.

Opposition leader Sussan Ley and Opposition frontbench react as Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen speaks during Question Time.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Bowen accused the Coalition of failing to celebrate Australia’s national successes, listing the times when Labor had supported a Liberal prime minister to hold an international role – including Tony Abbott chairing the G20 – before reciting Ley’s international trips when she was environment minister.

“I am pleased that this government’s achievements have been recognised with the appointment of COP negotiations,” Bowen said.

Bowen said the Coalition was fanciful in its accusations he would take on a full-time role as COP negotiator.

“I must correct the misperception … the role of COP president is not a full-time position,” he said.

“To suggest a full-time job … is a complete invention. A fantasy.“

Both sides of the chamber have jeered their political opponents throughout the past two questions directed at Bowen, and Speaker Milton Dick has ejected opposition energy spokesman Dan Tehan for repeatedly calling Bowen the “part-time energy minister”.