The Pacific Legal Policy Champions Program 2019

All Announcements

14 – 25 October 2019, Canberra, Australia

The Pacific Legal Policy Champions Program, hosted by Australian Attorney Generals Department (AAGD), was held in Canberra, Australia from 14 to 25 October 2019. It was attended by 12 Pacific law and justice officials from eight countries – Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa, PNG, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu. AGD’s Secretary, Mr Chris Moraitis, officially opened the program and noted how pleased he was to see so many countries represented at the training.

From left: Sergeant Peceli C Heritage (Fiji), Ms Ann Heather Matalasi (Samoa), Mrs Florence Ramoni Tagini (Solomon Islands), Ms Sela Lepeka Saiatua Halaevalu Holoa (Tonga), Mr Immanuel Sawan (PNG), Ms Vaipuna Matalo (Tuvalu), Ms Rosarino Isaia Koi (Samoa), Ms Manuliza Olivie Faktaufon (Fiji), Ms Florence Dafanisi (Solomon Islands), Ms Jeruska Togoran (Nauru), Ms Teanneki Nemta (Kiribati) and Superintendent Ashely Toutai Fua (Tonga)

The two week Legal Policy Champions Program provides participants with the tools to analyse complex policy problems and develop responses that are fit for each countries’ individual context – rather than ‘one fits all’ solutions. By attending a number of expert sessions and stepping through each stage of the policy development process, delegates were able to improve understanding of this process and deepen their understanding of how to create good policy, which includes identify risks and challenges.

As a part of the program, attendees also visited number of Australian institutions such as the High Court and Parliament House, where they got to see Parliament in action during question time.

The program also helped participants to build more extensive networks with their law and justice counterparts from across the Pacific.

The 2019 Policy Champions will now join the long list of alumni Champions who have participated in AAGD’s Pacific Legal Policy Champions Program. Now that they have returned home we look forward to hearing about the Champions’ delivering the course to their colleagues in the near future.