An important agreement between Australia and certain Pacific nations is considered a vital “gateway” that will enhance global judicial systems.
Finalized recently, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signifies a significant advancement in bolstering the partnership among Australia, the Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea.
Under this agreement, judges from Pacific countries will receive essential assistance and resources to enhance the quality, effectiveness, and equity of their judicial processes.
Papua New Guinea has maintained a strong relationship with the Australian Federal Court since a MOU was first signed in 2009.
The Pacific nation has remained close judicial partners ever since, and the most recent signing will see collaboration on issues including building judicial capacity; case management; and promoting gender equity among judges.
“Since we’ve had this relationship through the MOU, we’ve had technical assistance together with the personnel from the Federal Court of Australia,” Justice Salika said.
“We have had two judges come on a monthly basis to Papua New Guinea, their experiences have been shared by all of us and that has assisted a lot of us in how business is done, how judges were written quickly and efficiently without having to wait for a long time.Â
“It should be structured, their engagement has been of great assistance.”
The program was funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
