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Kevin Rudd - Source: Reuters -
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Kevin Rudd has defended the size of the delegation Australia is taking to the Copenhagen climate summit.
But the prime minister rejected media reports the delegation included nine media advisers.
The Australian contingent numbers 114, more than the 71 being sent by the British government, The Australian newspaper said on Friday.
Rudd did not dispute the reported number, saying officials from the state and territory governments were part of Australia's delegation.
"In terms of our core Australian government delegation it is probably in the order of about 50 or 60," he told Fairfax Radio.
Some of those were also accredited to the Australian Embassy in Copenhagen, which had brought in extra staff from other European stations.
Rudd said legal officials and policy advisers were needed to scrutinise "a highly complex text" because of the significant long-term implications for Australia.
The Australian delegation was larger than the British contingent because the UK did not have state governments, he said.
"We extend an invitation to (officials at the state level) and they come," Rudd said.
