TREASURER and Energy Minister Matt Kean cost taxpayers more than $70,000 when he and a government entourage flew to the United Kingdom to meet King Charles III ahead of COP27 in Egypt late last year.

Newly released details of the trip published by the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet show Mr Kean brought along a senior adviser, with NSW Treasury secretary Dr Paul Grimes also joining the delegation.

The published report showed the 10-day trip to London, Cairo and Sharm El Sheik cost more than $72,000, including $47,930 for Mr Kean and one staffer, with the bureaucrat costing $24,074.

Some of Mr Kean’s Liberal colleagues privately criticised the trip at the time as it had occurred during a crucial week in parliament with first-home buyer stamp duty reforms on the agenda.

In his report, Mr Kean said the trip had enabled government engagement with the “highest sub-sovereign level of Moody’s” and “supported our longer-term maintenance of NSW’s Triple-A credit rating”. 

Mr Kean said his role as both Treasurer and Energy Minister had enabled two “necessary work trips” to be combined into one “providing greater value for money”.

“It was a bonus that while in the UK to meet with financial bodies, I was invited to meet the King and discussed our shared passion for conservation,” he said.