<p>The prime minister will speak with King Charles and others at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Antigua and Barbuda</p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily political email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>As “summit season” begins, reaffirming ties with fellow leaders on the world stage could be a circuit breaker for Anthony Albanese amid domestic and economic woes, analysts have said.</p><p>But a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2026/oct/29/the-rba-has-primed-the-market-for-an-interest-rate-rise-but-what-will-it-mean-for-unemployment">likely interest rate hike</a> triggered by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/28/inflation-rate-australia-2026-number-data-consumer-price-index-cpi-release">higher-than-expected inflation</a> while the prime minister is overseas will make his job – and the treasurer’s – even harder.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/28/politics-really-newsletter-guardian-australia-free-best-daily-auspol-email-subscribe?CMP=copyembed">Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here</a></strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/31/albanese-reset-world-stage-economic-spot-fires-rba-interest-rate-decision">Continue reading...</a>