Law and Justice Sector

New Aus-PNG justice partnership program

The partnership’s Justice Services and Stability for Development or JSS4D program, has reached its conclusion after eight years and the new Australia-PNG Law and Justice Partnership will kick off in January this year.  

The Australian High Commissioner says representatives from the sector joined a Reflections Workshop to share what has worked and what can be improved on in Australia’s support to the Law and Justice sector. 

Law And Justice Sector To Aid ABG

Attorney General and Secretary for the Department of Justice and Attorney General, Dr Eric Kwa outlined this while speaking at the recent Sharp Agreement Summit in Port Moresby.

The summit was held to engage with all the National Government Agencies and Departments to inform on the need to expedite the process of transfer, and to develop more practical ways in which the transfers of powers and functions could be progressed.

Dr Kwa said the law and justice sector in PNG has 15 departments, while Bougainville has only one and so this poses a challenge.

2017 legal year opens

The morning started with a march from the Jack Pidik Park at Five-Mile to the Sione Kami Memorial Church, were a service was held.

Members of the Judiciary, Lawyers, Disciplinary forces and the Correctional Institute were reminded of their role, which is to protect and uphold the constitution of this country so that PNG remains an independent and viable democracy.

Wide approach necessary in Law and Justice Sector

PNG’s Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia says PNG’s participation in the sector wide initiatives has seen a wide collaboration and support amongst sector agencies that is now increasing access to judicial and legal services.

“The wide-sector approach has been adopted in several Common Law countries and like PNG, achieved good results.”

He said in order to expand its operations to the provinces, the judiciary has insisted upon and assumed full responsibility over the development of its own court buildings and facilities.