State lawyers refine skills

 PAPUA New Guinea’s public prosecutors and solicitors are developing and refining their skills in presenting criminal cases before the courts during a workshop in Port Moresby last recently.

The offices of the Public Prosecutor and the Public Solicitor are jointly hosting the workshop on criminal law advocacy with the support of Australia. 

Public Prosecutor and Public Solicitor lawyers are travelling from all regions of Papua New Guinea to participate.

Queensland judges and barristers travelled to Port Moresby to facilitate the workshop on a pro-bono basis.  

The workshop used a “mock” courtroom for lawyers to practise their technique and to receive advice from more senior lawyers.

This is the latest development in the growing relationship between PNG and Australia to strengthen justice services in the country.

There remain many common areas between Queensland and PNG laws and through the assistance of the PNG-Australia Law and Justice Partnership and Australian Attorney-General’s Department; the relationship between the Queensland and PNG agencies is strong.

The Public Prosecutor and the Public Solicitor have both welcomed the assistance of the Australian government for this event. 

“The fact that so many provincially-based lawyers have access to this professional development opportunity is only possible due to the strong bond with the Queensland legal community and the financial support of the Australian Government,” Acting Minister Development Cooperation James Hall from the Australian High Commission said.