Judges’ Covid-19 deaths put PNG in crisis

The deaths of three senior judges from Covid-19 has plunged Papua New Guinea’s judiciary into crisis, forcing the PNG government to turn to Australia for help.

Papua New Guinea Justice Minister Bryan Kramer. Picture: Facebook

The deaths of three senior judges from Covid-19 has plunged Papua New Guinea’s judiciary into crisis, forcing the PNG government to turn to Australia for help.

Justice Minister Bryan Kramer has asked the Australian government to send a Federal Court judge to Port Moresby to cover their duties.

Yet nearly three months after the request and two suitable Australian judges identified, there has been no action from Canberra. Mr Kramer was told by Minister for International Development and the Pacific Zed Seselja that international border restrictions prevented the judges from travelling.

This was despite follow-up approaches by Mr Kramer to the Australian High Commission in the PNG capital, local sources say.

In his letter in August to ­Assistant Minister to the ­Attorney-General Amanda Stoker, the PNG Justice Minister wrote: “I regret to advise that the Covid-19 pandemic has claimed the lives of three of our superior court Judges.

“I would appreciate it if you would consider a request for one of your federal judges with past PNG experience to be temporarily seconded to our National and Supreme Courts at this time of need.”

The dead judges were not named by Mr Kramer, but The Weekend Australian understands they are Nicholas Kirriwom, 66, who died on April 12; Regina Sagu, a founding member of the PNG Judicial Women’s ­Association who died on March 12; and Jim Wala ­Tamate, appointed in 2017, who died on April 25.

All were experienced members of the Supreme and National Courts convened by only 42 sitting judges headed by Chief ­Justice Sir Gibuma Gibbs Salika.

Their deaths underline the toll the virus has exacted on PNG’s professional classes, a function of the lagging vaccination rate. Only 348,938 people have been immunised, according to PNG government figures – fewer than 4 per cent of the 9.2 million population.

Doctors and nurses have also been heavily affected, cutting desperately needed hospital and health services. PNG has reported 34,846 Covid cases, including 542 deaths.

Legal sources close to Mr Kramer say the PNG government is unimpressed by the ­contrast between Canberra’s position on sending judges and its speedy response to the civil unrest in the Solomon Islands, resulting in the deployment of Australian troops and police.

Confirming receipt of Mr Kramer’s plea for Australian help, Senator Stoker said on Friday she had forwarded the ­request to Foreign Minister Marise Payne, “given the importance of Australia’s relationship with PNG and in accordance with the appropriate protocol”.

The two Federal Court judges available to be seconded to Port Moresby are Brisbane-based Berna Collier and John Logan, both of whom have been ­appointed to the PNG Supreme and National Courts under a ­judicial co-operation agreement with Australia.

“However, because of Covid restrictions the two judges assisting under this MOU were unable to travel to PNG,” Mr Kramer told the PNG Post-Courier.

Attorney-General Michaelia Cash said the government ­remained committed to supporting PNG’s law and justice ­agencies and was in touch with the government there.