The intrepid, government-hating bastards at the ABC have managed to catch Dutton joking to the Prime Minister about the existential threat of climate change faced by Pacific Island nations vulnerable to rising sea levels.

Watch out for those mics, Pete.

Australian prime minister Tony Abbott was in Papua New Guinea this week, for day-long forum with 15 Pacific island leaders on the issue of climate change.

As ethnic and community groups prepared to begin a roundtable discussion on resettling Syrian refugees on Friday, Mr Dutton said: “It’s like Cape York time”, in an apparent reference to the stereotypical view that there is a fluid approach to punctuality in remote and Indigenous communities such as those visited by Mr Abbott last month.

Labor will accuse the minister of making light of the fear Pacific island nations have that rising water levels because of global warming will see their lands disappear.

The social services minister, Scott Morrison, who was also in attendance, then pointed out that there was a boom mic – an extendable microphone used to capture sound at a distance – above the ministers.

Cameras allowed in for the start of the talks were rolling as they chatted.

Mr Morrison then prevented any further gaffes by pointing out that there was a “boom [microphone] up there”.

Abbott said that meetings in Port Moresby did not run to schedule, either.

Mr Dutton replied, “Time doesn’t mean anything when you’re about to … you know, have water lapping on your door”.

When asked about it later by reporters, Mr Dutton said: “I had a private conversation with the prime minister”.