Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has been overheard quipping about the plight of Pacific Island nations facing rising seas from climate change.

Mr Dutton was involved in a conversation with Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who had just returned from lengthy talks focused on climate change at the Pacific Islands Forum in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

Noting that yesteday’s meeting on Syrian refugees was running a bit late, Mr Dutton remarked that it was running to “Cape York time”, to which Mr Abbott replied, “we had a bit of that up in Port Moresby”.

Mr Dutton then added, “time doesn’t mean anything when you’re about to have water lapping at your door”.

Social Services Minister Scott Morrison then pointed out to both men that there was a microphone overhead.

The Immigration Minister later described the exchange as a “private conversation”.

It was held beneath a large television microphone on a three-metre-long boom pole above the MPs’ heads.

Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj