Wikipedia

Christopher Eyles Guy Bowen (born 17 January 1973) is an Australian politician who has served as the Minister for Climate Change and Energy in the Albanese government since 2022. A member of the Labor Party, he has been the member of Parliament (MP) for the New South Wales division of McMahon since 2010 and for the division of Prospect from 2004 to 2010. Bowen previously served as a minister in the Rudd and Gillard governments from 2007 to 2013.

Born in Sydney, Bowen graduated from the University of Sydney in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in economics. He served as a councillor of Fairfield City Council from 1995 to 2004, including a term as mayor. Bowen was elected to the House of Representatives at the 2004 federal election, winning the seat of Prospect in New South Wales, later transferring to the seat of McMahon. He was appointed to the shadow ministry by Kevin Rudd in 2006, becoming assistant treasurer and Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs after the Labor Party's victory at the 2007 election. He continued to serve as a minister after Rudd was replaced by Julia Gillard in 2010, and after Rudd's return as prime minister, until Labor's defeat at the 2013 election.

Bowen served briefly as the acting leader of the Opposition and the acting leader of the Labor Party from September to October 2013 following Rudd's retirement, until Bill Shorten's election at the party's subsequent leadership election. He was the shadow treasurer of Shorten's shadow ministry from 2013 to 2019, until Shorten's retirement after another defeat at the 2019 election. He announced himself as a candidate for the subsequent leadership election but withdrew, allowing Anthony Albanese to become leader unopposed.

After the ALP's victory in the 2022 election, Bowen was appointed Minister for Climate Change and Energy. He is regarded as a senior figure in the Labor Right faction.

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Rebellions

Never rebelled

3199

Votes attended

3559

Possible votes

90%

Attendance rate

Voting Record Full record ↗

Voted for

tobacco plain packaging a carbon price increasing scrutiny of asylum seeker management increasing trade unions' powers in the workplace increasing competition in bulk wheat export recognising local government in the Constitution a minerals resource rent tax decreasing the private health insurance rebate extending government benefits to same-sex couples increasing availability of abortion drugs carbon farming

Mixed / less clear

a transition plan for coal workers increasing transparency of big business by making information public increasing protection of Australia's fresh water the Paris Climate Agreement encouraging Australian-based industry making TAFE education fee-free increasing funding for university education market-led approaches to protecting biodiversity increasing marine conservation reproductive bodily autonomy more scrutiny of intelligence services & police

Voted against

government administered paid parental leave temporary protection visas increasing the price of subsidised medicine the Intervention in the Northern Territory an emissions reduction fund increasing funding for road infrastructure decreasing ABC and SBS funding deregulating undergraduate university fees increasing accessibility of government data and documents compensating victims of overseas terrorism since the September 11 attack increasing indexation of HECS-HELP debts

Interests & Gifts

View full register page

Real Estate

Self: Location: Smithfield NSW · Purpose: Residence; Location: Bawley Point NSW · Purpose: Holiday/Investment
Spouse/partner: Location: Half share in spouse's

Liabilities

Self: Nature Of Liability: Mortgage on residence · Creditor: Australian Mutual Bank; Nature Of Liability: Mortgage on holiday home · Creditor: Australian Mutual Bank; Nature Of Liability: Car Loan · Creditor: Macquarie Bank
Spouse/partner: Nature Of Liability: Half share of spouse's debts · Creditor: AMB

Saving Or Investment Accounts

Self: Nature Of Account: Savings Offset Account · Institution: Australian Mutual Bank
Spouse/partner: Nature Of Account: Half Share of spouses savings account (joint) · Institution: Australian Mutual Bank; Nature Of Account: Savings Account · Institution: Commonwealth Bank
Dependent children: Nature Of Account: Savings · Institution: Commonwealth Bank; Nature Of Account: Savings · Institution: Australian Mutual Bank

Other Assets Over 7500

Self: Superannuation, Vanguard
Spouse/partner: Superannuation, Australian Retirement Trust
Dependent children: Daughter: Superannuation, TWU Super; Son: Superannuation, Hostplus

Other Substantial Sources Of Income

Self: Salary, House of Representatives and Department of Climate Change, Energy and Water
Spouse/partner: Salary, Sydney Water
Dependent children: My daughter is a part time employee of the Transport Workers Union (NSW); My son is a part time waiter in a local cafe.

Gifts

Self: Since my last return I have received a signed cricket bat from Pat Cummins and a Taiaha from the Sydney Maere Collective.

Memberships Conflict Possible

Self: Member, Australian Labor Party (NSW); Member, Australian Fabians; Member Fairfield RSL Club; Member Smithfield RSL Club; Member Blacktown Workers Club; Member Ulladulla/Shoalhaven Returned Ex-Services Club; Patron, Matlese Community of NSW; Member, GWS Giants
Spouse/partner: Member, GWS Giants
Dependent children: Members, GWS Giants

Other Interests Potential Conflict

Self: Member, Qantas Chairmans Lounge; Member, Virgin Club
Spouse/partner: Member, Qantas Chairmans Lounge; Member, Virgin Club

Salary

We estimate Chris Bowen received a parliamentary salary of: $376,850

Based on the Remuneration Tribunal base salary of $239,270 plus any additional allowance for ministerial, shadow or office-holder roles held at time of generation.

Expenditure

Latest quarter total: $457,646
Printing and Communications: $112,718
Publications: $586
Office Consumables and Services: $7,460
Private-Plated Vehicle: $11,241
COMCAR: $6,094
Telecommunications - Usage: $267
Telecommunications - Residential - Official: $468
Travel Allowance: $8,806
Fares: $11,099
Domestic Travel: $92,869
International Travel: $53,394
Ministerial Visits: $32,185
Office Facilities - Not stated: $120,460

Latest Guardian Articles

Conversation Articles

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Chris Bowen’s struggle to promote consensus on climate action at COP28 (2023-12-01)
Michelle Grattan
Chris Bowen, Minister for Climate Change and Energy, next week heads to COP28 in Dubai, leading the Australian delegation. He joins the podcast to talk about the meeting, which he hopes will be easier than last year's was.
Politics podcast: Chris Bowen (2015-08-10)
Michelle Grattan
Chris Bowen and Michelle Grattan step away from the day-to-day politics to talk about Bowen’s new book, The Money Men, in which he writes about twelve of Australia’s most notable treasurers.
Politics podcast: Chris Bowen on the budget and Labor’s policies (2018-05-03)
Michelle Grattan
Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen tells The Conversation he accepts that big business will "lobby on their own path".
Australia cedes COP31 but negotiates role for Chris Bowen and Pacific countries (2025-11-20)
Michelle Grattan
After months of talks, the host of COP31 will be Turkey, but the Australian environment minister will be the conference’s President of Negotiations.
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Chris Bowen on the recession, aged care and priorities for health policy (2020-09-03)
Michelle Grattan
Michelle Grattan sits down with shadow health minister Chris Bowen
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Chris Bowen on why it’s ‘a little frustrating’ bidding for COP 31 (2025-07-24)
Michelle Grattan
We’re joined on this podcast by the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen who outlines Australia’s ongoing energy transition.
Politics podcast: Chris Bowen on Labor’s budget responses (2017-05-24)
Michelle Grattan
Labor is 'taking a bit of time' before announcing its position on the company tax cuts, Chris Bowen says.
Make the study of economics “more sexy”: Chris Bowen (2019-11-19)
Michelle Grattan
In a lecture to be delivered on Wednesday, Chris Bowen says he is concerned that “the nation will lose out…if fewer young people are trained in the fundamentals of good economic decision making”.
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Chris Bowen on fuel efficiency standards and the energy transition (2024-02-08)
Michelle Grattan
The new fuel efficiency standards regime will move Australia in the direction of comparable countries, but it has its critics. Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen joins the podcast to discuss this policy and more
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Chris Bowen says Labor’s climate policy will be ‘realistic and ambitious’ (2021-11-11)
Michelle Grattan
Michelle Grattan speaks with shadow minister Chris Bowen on Labor's "realistic and ambitious" climate policy and Australia's yet to be released renewable future
Climate minister Chris Bowen says replacing coal-fired power stations with nuclear would cost $387 billion (2023-09-17)
Michelle Grattan
The costing, put out by the Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, is a pre-emptive strike against the opposition, which is moving to include nuclear power in the energy policy it takes to the next election
Aspiring treasurer Chris Bowen looks fit for purpose (2016-05-10)
Michelle Grattan
Chris Bowen presented at the National Press Club on Tuesday as a well-prepared alternative treasurer, who could slot into the real job very easily if July 2 brought the chance. “Neat” is the word that…
FactCheck: is wage growth at record lows? (2016-10-27)
Janine Dixon
Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen said Australian wages growth is at record lows. Is that true?
Chris Bowen’s plan to win hearts and minds and save Labor (2013-07-17)
Geoffrey Robinson
Treasurer Chris Bowen’s new blueprint for Labor party reform Hearts and Minds gives us the easy listening version of Paul Keating, just as Tony Abbott offers us the same for John Howard. The book provides…
Full response from a spokesperson for Chris Bowen (2016-10-27)
In relation to this FactCheck on wage growth, a spokesperson for Chris Bowen told The Conversation: The source is the Australian Bureau of Statistics Wage Price Index release for June 2016. The data is…
Election FactCheck: Has the Coalition presided over the most sustained fall in Australian living standards since records began? (2016-06-08)
Peter Whiteford
Was Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen right to say that the Coalition presided over the most sustained fall in our living standards since records began?
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Chris Bowen on ‘calling out’ claims about the energy transition’s cost (2024-06-26)
Michelle Grattan
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen joins the podcast to discuss the ongoing costs of the energy transition and Peter Dutton's nuclear plan.
VIDEO: Michelle Grattan on Tony Abbott’s policy interventions (2016-03-04)
Michelle Grattan, Stephen Parker
It has been a week of political contests, both within party lines and across them. Stephen Parker and Michelle Grattan take a look at the bitter rivalry between Malcolm Turnbull and Tony Abbott.
Economic statement: experts respond (2013-08-02)
Richard Denniss, Arusha Cooray, John Quiggin, John Wanna, Phil Lewis, Zareh Ghazarian
A slowing economy and drop in government revenue has led to an increased budget deficit, new taxes and some cuts to existing programs. Delivering the Rudd government’s long awaited economic statement…
FactCheck: has Australian government spending as a share of GDP been at GFC levels since last election? (2016-03-01)
Anne Garnett
Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen told journalists that since the last federal election, the government has had spending as a percentage of GDP at GFC levels. Is that right?
Bowen carries baggage into Labor leadership contest (2019-05-21)
Michelle Grattan
The leadership will be decided by ballots of the party membership and the caucus, with a 50-50 weighting.
Albanese promises new body to strengthen defence against future pandemics (2020-10-05)
Michelle Grattan
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese has announced an initiative that would see a Labor government implement an Australian Centre for Disease Control.
FactCheck Q&A: would 60% of any GST revenue raised have to be spent on compensation? (2015-09-11)
Kathrin Bain
Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen told Q&A that the government would have to spend close to 60% of any GST revenue raised on compensation. Is that a fact?
A top court has urged nations to clamp down on fossil fuel production. When will Australia finally start listening? (2025-07-07)
Wesley Morgan, Gillian Moon
As Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen tours the Pacific this week, nations’ legal obligations to phase out fossil fuels are becoming undeniable.
Politics podcast: Andrew Giles on schools funding (2017-05-08)
Michelle Grattan
Andrew Giles says the strong opposition from Catholic schools to the government's education package is because they were given 'almost no notice' of the funding changes.
The Coalition prepares to soften Australia’s 2030 climate target, while reaffirming its commitment to the Paris Agreement (2025-04-10)
Tony Wood
The Coalition reveals plans to review Australia’s 2030 emissions reduction target if they win government at the next federal election.
FactCheck: is tax up every year under the Abbott government? (2015-05-25)
Fabrizio Carmignani
The Shadow Treasurer, Chris Bowen, has said that tax as a percentage of the economy is higher now than it was under the previous government. Is that right?
Why Chris Bowen isn’t afraid of multiculturalism (but others are) (2011-04-19)
Gwenda Tavan
Multiculturalism is back. At least it would seem that way. The Immigration Minister Chris Bowen is speaking about it, a parliamentary inquiry is looking into it, and the government is producing pamphlets…
FactCheck: does ASIC already have the powers of a royal commission and more? (2016-04-17)
Anna Olijnyk
After Labor proposed a royal commission into the banking industry, Treasurer Scott Morrison said the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has all the powers of a royal commission and more. Is that right?
VIDEO: Michelle Grattan on the first week of the election campaign (2016-05-13)
Michelle Grattan
It’s difficult to pick which side of politics won the first week of the election campaign.