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 examines the causes of Robinson’s death and traces 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.

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