Superior courts of SI, Australian, and PNG agree to establish lasting connections

Cap. From (L-R) Chief Justice of PNG, Sir Gibbs Salika, Chief Justice of Federal Court of Australia, Justice Debra Mortimer, and Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer from the High Court of Solomon Islands. *(Image: Australian High Commission, Port Moresby)*

The two new Memoranda of Understanding [MoU] were signed between the Federal Court of Australia and the National and Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea [PNG] and the High Court of Solomon Islands yesterday.

The MOU between Australia and the two Pacific nations is designed to strengthen the vital role of national courts in fostering a safe, prosperous, and peaceful region.

Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika represented the Supreme Court of PNG, while the Federal Court of Australia was represented by Chief Justice Debra Mortimer, and the High Court of Solomon Islands was represented by Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer.

Australia believes that with a long history of shared values, legal traditions, commitment to democracy and the rule of law, the MoU with PNG and Solomon Islands will go a long way.

This collaboration solidifies PNG's Chief Justice, Sir Gibb Salika's statement delivered two weeks at the 2025 legal year opening in Port Moresby on the importance of improving PNG's judiciary and the recruitment of overseas judges.

“Last year, the appointing authority that is the judicial and legal services commission appointed another lot of non-citizen judges who we hope will join us shortly. The agreement is set to open doors to valuable new training, mentoring, and fellowship opportunities for Papua New Guinea's legal professionals,” Sir Gibbs said.

Meanwhile, the three countries believe that when justice thrives, communities prosper, and more so, when courts are strong, people have faith in the justice system.

Australia is now looking forward to enhancing the decades-long relationship between our legal systems through the Memorandum of Understanding to establish lasting connections.