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31 August - 4 September 2026, BAQ 14th Commercial Litigation Workshop conducted at the Legal Training Institute (LTI), Port Moresby

From 31 August to 4 September 2026 eleven Queensland barristers, one Queensland Judge, one member of the ART and one PNG judge conducted the 14th Annual Workshop at the LTI. The trainers were: Justice Joe Crowley (PNG), Judge Bernard Porter KC, Andrew Crowe KC (Team Leader), Mark Steele KC, Holly Blattman KC, Matt Jones KC, Dale Bampton (ART), Fiona Lubett, Merissa Martinez, Reimen Hii, Max Walker, Mei Barnes and Felicity Woods. Andrew, Mark and Max are all members of Northbank Chambers. Justice Karen Carmody (PNG) was a visiting lecturer.

78 students were awarded Certificates of Completion. The trend of female students outnumbering male students continued. Approximately 70% of the students were female. The Workshop was opened by the Chief Justice, Sir Gibbs Salika who is a strong supporter of the BAQ’s role at the LTI.

It has become a tradition for the BAQ to present at an annual CLE (conducted by the Commonwealth Lawyers Association and the Papua New Guinea Law Society) on the Tuesday evening. Approximately 230 Judges and legal practitioners attended the event in person with a further 397 joining online. This year Max Walker and Dale Bampton presented on Representative Proceedings and differences between such proccedings and Class Actions (as conducted in Australia) and Andrew Crowe KC presented on Volunteerism in the context of a call for volunteers to support committees being established by the PNGLS. At the CLE the President of the PNGLS, Hubert Numani confirmed a commitment to the introduction of compulsory CLE from 1 January 2026.

On Thursday the trainers attended a function at the Australian High Commission held specifically for the BAQ team attended by about 100 members of the legal justice sector. The Chief Justice attended this event and once again stated his strong support for the role of the BAQ at the LTI and its role in the delivery of CLE in PNG.

Earlier seminar topics

  • Negotiation Techniques in Commercial Disputes: "How to" Guide

  • Appeals - A Practical Approach to instituting, preparing for and appearing in an Appeal

  • Lay Witness Evidence

  • 7th Annual Intellectual Property Law Review Seminar

  • Trustees’ applications for judicial advice

  • BAQ Annual ADR Conference 

  • The Rules in Jones v Dunkel and Browne v Dunn in Civil Trials 

  • Taking back the contract works – termination and step in rights

  • Issues regarding liquidated damages – penalty v. genuine pre-estimate of loss; LDs v. general damages

  • Expert Evidence

  • Security for Costs (with focus on FCA)