ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good afternoon. I'm very pleased to be joined by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Defence Minister Richard Marles here at this historic site of Victoria Barracks. And today, I can announce that Victoria Barracks will be free for all Sydneysiders to enjoy, and it will remain in public hands. This will give an assurance to the public that the heritage at this site is vital, that it be not just maintained, but indeed enhanced.

The Albanese Government is acting on the independent Defence Estate Audit, and progressing the most significant reform to Australia’s Defence estate in our nation’s history.

Keeping Australians safe is the Government’s priority, and as part of that we must ensure the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has access to facilities that are fit for purpose.

In response to the independent Audit, the Government agreed to divest or partially divest 67 sites that were underutilised by Defence, not fit-for-purpose, and costly for Defence to maintain.

The Governor-General has accepted my recommendation to appoint Senator the Hon Tim Ayres, Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science, to administer the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C).

This appointment reflects Minister Ayres’ role contributing to oversight of the Office of Artificial Intelligence, which is designing world-leading national AI standards to ensure Australians can share the benefits of this transformative technology, safely, and that AI works in Australia’s interests.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: It's been a really productive day here at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. CHOGM, of course, brings together 56 nations, representing a third of the world's population and representing a significant portion of the world's GDP. It, of course, has been concentrating on the issue of the global economy and international trade. And I've taken the opportunity to advance Australia's national interests, which is why we engage with our interconnected world.

Addressing online violence in our democracies – promoting equality in Commonwealth Parliaments.

A toxic online environment is a threat to all Commonwealth democracies. It threatens our values and undermines our people’s freedom and choices.  

Workplace violence in any context is unacceptable, including that faced by journalists and media who are crucial to protecting freedom and democracy. We also condemn rising violence and aggression towards all frontline workers, including health and retail workers.

Your Excellency Sir Rodney Williams, Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda, and Lady Sandra Williams.

The Right Honourable Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, and Minister Maria Browne.

Your Excellencies, Heads of Government and Heads of Delegation.

The Honourable Shirley Botchwey, Commonwealth Secretary-General.

It is a great pleasure to be here in Antigua and Barbuda.

And to join friends from across the Commonwealth.

This means friends from every continent, many cultures and multiple faiths.

The Right Honourable Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda.

Your Excellencies, Heads of Government, Heads of Delegation, Honourable Ministers.

Our host Dr Andrew Forrest.

Business and nongovernment organisation leaders.

It’s a pleasure to be here, on the Green Pioneer, for a green pioneer – to honour the environmental leadership of His Majesty The King.

Protecting and restoring nature is a global, intergenerational compact.

And that is the ambition at the heart of the Commonwealth Nature Initiative.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: This morning I had the great honour of giving the keynote address at the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting here in Antigua. The Commonwealth is an important institution of which Australia has played an important historical part. 56 countries representing one third of the world's population, 2.7 billion people. The combined economies will be pretty close to $30 trillion dollars next year. That represents a double of what it was just a decade ago.

What you see on this stage is the best of what being an Australian looks like.

It is people who tell our national story through action.

And they tell our national story through the compassion they have for Australians that they will probably never meet themselves.

And a lot has changed over the last five years.

But I've had the joy of being responsible for helping with the National Australia Day Council for five years, and something I learned really early on, which remains as true today as it was when I first learnt it.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to Antigua and Barbuda to attend the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) from 31 October to 4 November 2026.

Representatives from over 50 countries are expected to attend the meeting to discuss shared challenges and opportunities under the theme of Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth is a unique and diverse grouping of 56 countries, representing 2.7 billion people from both advanced and developing economies across the world.