Selden Society 2025 lecture three—The origins of contemporary judicial power in Papua New Guinea

The third Selden Society lecture for 2025, The origins of contemporary judicial power in Papua New Guinea, will be presented by the Hon Justice John Logan RFD.

Thursday 16 October
5.15 for 5.30pm 

This lecture is free to attend. Light refreshments will be served in the Portrait Gallery afterwards.

If you are unable to attend in person, the lecture will also be livestreamed. Register via Zoom.

About the lecture

On the night of 19 June 1904, Christopher Stansfeld Robinson—the first Australian chief judicial officer in what became the Territory of Papua—died by suicide outside Government House in Port Moresby. 

Behind this tragedy lay earlier tragedies, each rooted in the clash of civilisations that marked the colonial experience for what has become the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, for the Commonwealth of Australia and for a shared colonial predecessor, the United Kingdom. 

Marking the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea’s independence, the Honourable Justice John Logan RFD will examine the causes of Robinson’s death and trace recurring themes in the development of judicial power in Papua New Guinea. His Honour suggests these themes offer valuable insights into Australia’s closest neighbour. 

About the speaker

Justice John Alexander Logan holds economics and law degrees from the University of Queensland and was admitted to the Queensland Bar in 1980. He worked in the Commonwealth Crown Solicitor’s office, commenced private practice at the Queensland Bar in 1984, and was appointed senior counsel in 1999. He joined the Federal Court in 2007, is currently the President of the Defence Force Discipline Appeals Tribunal, and was Deputy President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for ten years.

Commissioned into the Army Reserve in 1976, Justice Logan rose to the rank of Major in the Australian Intelligence Corps and received the Reserve Force Decoration in 1993 in respect of his military service.

Since 2011, Justice Logan has served as a judge of the Supreme and National Courts of Papua New Guinea.

Enquiries

• Phone 1300 SCLQLD (1300 725 753)

• Submit an online enquiry at www.sclqld.org.au/contact