PNG lawyer wins overseas award

 A GOVERNMENT lawyer has won the 2012 Prime Minister’s Pacific-Australia award in Australia. 

Tanuvasa Chou-Lee works at the Department of Justice and Attorney-General. He was among 30 Pacific students studying in Australia under the AusAID scholarship programme. 

He received the award at a presentation dinner night at the National Gallery of Australia. He was the only lawyer in the group. 

He met Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Federal Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations Senator Chris Evans.

Tanuvasa, 30, said the award came as a wonderful surprise and a blessing. But more so, he was really happy with the achievement because it showcased the quality of lawyers in the justice department.

“I don’t have any regrets joining this department because I have learnt a lot over the years and have achieved most of my goals,” he said. 

“Having completed my masters at the Australian National University, receiving the award was a bonus for me.”

The Prime Minister’s Australia Awards (PMAA) provide 40 Australian and 50 international students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the academic and social culture of their host country through research, study and work placements, including internship placements for some award holders.

After leaving the law school at the University of Papua New Guinea and completing legal training at the Legal Training Institute in 2005, Tanuvasa joined the department in 2006. 

His chances of doing his masters were high after joining a government department.

Tanuvasa has returned to take up his new post as deputy solicitor-general (State Defence) of Papua New Guinea.