Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) visited Australia to bolster bilateral cooperation and learn best practices in government public relations, digital policy, and efforts to countering disinformation.

“This initiative is part of strengthening Indonesia–Australia cooperation under President Prabowo Subianto and Prime Minister Albanese,” the PCO's Deputy for Dissemination and Media Information, Noudhy Valdryno, remarked in a written statement here on Sunday.

According to him, the visit aligns with the Indonesian government’s Asta Cita missions and supports Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.

During the nearly week-long trip, the Indonesian delegation held discussions with academics and policy experts from various institutions.

At the University of Sydney, the delegation met with Mitchell Hobbs, a senior lecturer in media and public relations and former communications adviser to Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard (2010–2013).

Hobbs emphasized the need for government communication to transform from being reactive to proactive and educational, especially in addressing misinformation.

“To effectively counter disinformation, the government must respond quickly and develop a robust framework for collaboration that includes civil society coalitions and academia,” Valdryno explained.

Like Indonesia, Australia also faces a surge in negative digital content including disinformation, defamation, and hate speech. In response, Australia will restrict social media access for users under 16 to counter online violence, pornography, false or fake information, and AI abuse.

Indonesia has responded similarly with President Prabowo recently signing a Government Regulation on Electronic System Governance for Child Protection (PP TUNAS), aimed at ensuring child safety in digital spaces.

“We discussed how both countries can work together to address these challenges. There are many insights we can apply in Indonesia,” Valdryno added.

The delegation returned with strategic lessons aimed at enriching Indonesia’s national communication strategy, expanding international cooperation, and addressing digital challenges through collaboration.

The PCO also plans to strengthen its fact-checking system and establish a dedicated team to combat disinformation, defamation, and hate speech.

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