Albanese Heads to Pre-COP Amid Domestic Pressures

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to leave for Fiji and Tuvalu to attend the Pre-COP meeting, a initiative that aims to limit China's influence in the Pacific. However, the timing of his trip may not be ideal, as climate change has slipped down the public's agenda.

The government is heading into a difficult final three months of the year, with the cost of living dominating people's daily concerns. The Reserve Bank hiked rates for the fourth time this year to the highest level since 2011, further fuelling the debate over who is responsible for inflation.

RBA governor Michele Bullock emphasized that domestic capacity pressures are driving inflation, undercutting Treasurer Jim Chalmers' claim that it's mainly due to the Iran war. This has added pressure on the government to respond to calls for fresh savings and cost-of-living relief in its upcoming budget update.

As the government prepares for a more difficult Senate, where the Greens hold the balance of power, new leadership may be emerging. David Shoebridge, who replaced Larissa Waters as leader of the Greens, has warned Labor that it will be 'tough' on negotiations and not afraid to make its voice heard.