Indonesia, Australia Deepen Ties on Public Communication and Digital Policy
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) of Indonesia has concluded a working visit to Australia aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation and adopting best practices in government public relations, digital policy, and counter-disinformation efforts.
“This initiative is part of strengthening Indonesia–Australia cooperation under President Prabowo Subianto and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese,” said Noudhy Valdryno, PCO Deputy for Dissemination and Media Information, in a written statement issued in Jakarta on Sunday.
According to Valdryno, the visit is aligned with the Indonesian government’s Asta Cita development missions and supports Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.
During the nearly week-long program, the Indonesian delegation engaged in high-level dialogues with academics and policy experts from leading institutions. One of the key meetings was held at the University of Sydney, where the delegation met with Dr. Mitchell Hobbs, senior lecturer in media and public relations and former communications adviser to then-Prime Minister Julia Gillard (2010–2013).
Hobbs highlighted the importance of transitioning from reactive to proactive and educational approaches in public communication, particularly in tackling the growing challenge of misinformation.
“To effectively counter disinformation, the government must respond swiftly and develop a strong framework for collaboration that includes civil society coalitions and academic institutions,” Valdryno emphasized.
The visit comes as both Indonesia and Australia face similar challenges in managing the spread of harmful digital content, including disinformation, defamation, and hate speech. Australia, in response, has announced plans to restrict social media access for users under 16 to curb exposure to online violence, pornography, false information, and AI misuse.
Indonesia has also taken significant steps in this area, with President Prabowo recently signing the Government Regulation on Electronic System Governance for Child Protection (PP TUNAS), which seeks to ensure child safety in digital environments.
“We explored opportunities for cooperation in addressing these pressing issues. There are numerous insights from Australia that we can adapt to enhance Indonesia’s national communication framework,” Valdryno stated.
The delegation returned with key takeaways to enrich Indonesia’s strategic communication approach, broaden international collaboration, and advance efforts to safeguard the digital space. The PCO also announced plans to strengthen its fact-checking infrastructure and establish a dedicated team to combat disinformation, defamation, and hate speech.
This visit reaffirms Indonesia’s commitment to fostering resilient information ecosystems and underscores the value of international partnerships in navigating global digital challenges.
