The Lao delegation visited media organisations in Australia during June 7-13.

Lao media delegation strengthens engagement with Australia

A Lao delegation’s visit to Australia provided Lao media leaders an opportunity to meet with Australian government officials and visit leading national media organisations.
The delegation, which visited at the invitation of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, was led by the Deputy Head of the Commission for Information and Education of the Central Committee, Mr Vansy Kuamua, and included staff from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the visit, members of the group met their Australian counterparts and highlighted the strength and depth of the bilateral relationship, including progress under the Australia-Laos Comprehensive Partnership.
The delegation explored Australia’s policies and approaches for information integrity, media literacy, digital transformation and social media age restrictions, as well as the evolving media landscape in Laos and Australia.
The visit provided a valuable opportunity for Lao officials to exchange perspectives and learn from Australia’s experiences in addressing challenges facing the media sector.
Mr Vansy described misinformation and disinformation as “one of the biggest challenges we are facing at the moment”, and noted the significant role of social media and rapid information flows.
While in Canberra, the delegation visited the National Gallery of Australia, which houses significant First Nations and regional collections, including works from Laos.
It also toured the Australian Parliament House and received briefings on the country’s system of government and its engagement with the media.
In Sydney, the delegation visited the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Australia to observe how they produce national news and political reporting.
The delegates heard the ways these publicly funded media organisations operate under independent editorial frameworks to ensure audiences have access to accurate and high-quality information.
In particular, ABC outlined the ongoing transition from linear broadcasting to on-demand content, the impact of the proliferation of media platforms, and the need to upskill newsrooms for digital delivery.
Mr Vansy said the visit provided valuable insights into Australia’s media and communications landscape, particularly the transition from traditional print to digital journalism, including tools to track audience engagement and newsroom performance.
He welcomed learning about SBS’s multilingual news model, noting that its approach of delivering content across multiple platforms and in 63 languages ensures diverse communities in Australia can access trusted information.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update June 24, 2026)