Credit : Anthony Albanese's X
ST JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he is attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda to make sure Australia has a voice in decisions that affect its future, as rising costs put pressure on household budgets at home and abroad.
In a post on his X account on November 4 (Malaysia time), accompanied by a short video, Albanese wrote: “Around the world rising costs are putting pressure on family budgets, including at home in Australia. That’s why I’m here at CHOGM, making sure Australia has a voice in decisions that affect our future.”
He added: “From tackling AI safety standards to keeping trade open and advancing energy security, we’re working with our Commonwealth partners to make progress. Standing up for Australia and delivering for Australians back home.”
The 28th CHOGM is being held in St John’s under the theme “Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth”. According to the leaders’ communiqué published by the Prime Minister of Canada’s office, the heads of government met from November 1 to 4, 2026, at what they described as a time of great disruption to the rules-based international order and the global economy.
The Australian Prime Minister’s office said before the trip that Albanese would travel to Antigua and Barbuda for the meeting from October 31 to November 4. It noted that the Commonwealth is a grouping of 56 countries representing 2.7 billion people, and that this is the first time an Australian prime minister has visited the Caribbean since 2009. It is Albanese’s second CHOGM, after the 2024 meeting in Samoa.
In that statement, Albanese said the meeting gave Australia “an opportunity to work with some of our closest partners on shared challenges, including climate change, the preservation of our oceans, trade and investment, and the rise of AI”. He also described it as an important opportunity to advance Australia’s campaign for a seat on the United Nations Security Council in 2029-30.
Speaking at a press conference in St John’s on November 3, according to a transcript published by his office, Albanese said the summit had concentrated on the global economy and international trade, and that “one in four of Australian jobs relies upon trade”. He said he had held a positive meeting with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, discussing the countries’ free trade agreement and progress on AUKUS, and had also discussed critical minerals, defence and trade diversification with Canada.
The Commonwealth Lawyers Association, reporting on the leaders’ joint forums on November 3, said Albanese acknowledged the transformative potential of artificial intelligence while warning against its misuse. He called for responsible AI governance, international standards and digital protections so that technology serves humanity rather than enabling disinformation or interference in democratic processes.
According to the same report, he also stressed the importance of election observation and protecting elected representatives, particularly women, from intimidation, and called for greater support for smaller and developing nations in the Pacific and Caribbean, including stronger influence for island nations in climate talks ahead of COP31.
Albanese’s attendance has drawn criticism at home. ABC News reported that Coalition figures accused him of “jetting off” to the Caribbean while Australians struggle with the cost of living, while the Prime Minister said he was attending at the personal request of King Charles. His latest post appears aimed at linking the summit’s agenda directly to those cost-of-living concerns.
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