14 January 2026 – Senator Dean Smith, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for the Australian Government, officially announced that he will meet with representatives of the National Unity Government (NUG) during his visit to Malaysia and Thailand.
Senator Dean Smith, in his capacity as the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for the Australian Government, will undertake a self-funded visit to Malaysia and Thailand from 12 January to 18 January 2026.
During this trip, he is scheduled to meet with Myanmar activists, faith-based humanitarian organisations, and representatives from the National Unity Government (NUG) to discuss the current situation in Myanmar and the impacts of the conflict.
It is understood that the humanitarian and security situation in Myanmar continues to deteriorate and is at a critical juncture. Furthermore, he will have the opportunity to meet with Australian government officials, representatives from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and other humanitarian agencies in Malaysia and Thailand.
The primary objectives of the visit are to gain a deeper understanding of the effectiveness of The Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) response to the crisis in Myanmar, to examine humanitarian concerns regarding the State Security and Peace Commission (SSPC) military’s so-called “elections,” and to comprehend the broader ramifications of shifts in international assistance, including the withdrawal of some aid programs by the United States.
Some members of the Myanmar community from Western Australia (WA) will accompany the delegation on this trip. The information gathered from these discussions will directly inform the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee’s inquiry into “Democracy and Human Rights in Myanmar.” – Reporting by Daniel
