MLM contributes to competition capacity-building in the Asia-Pacific region

The significance of being the first two Papua New Guineans to undertake a Master of Competition and Consumer Law at Melbourne Law School is not lost on Grace Misina and Emmanuel Auru, who began classes this month.

Grace Misina and Emmanuel Auru
Grace Misina and Emmanuel Auru pictured with Professor Caron Beaton-Wells

The pair, who are employed by PNG's Independent Consumer and Competition Commission and arrived here in January, want to use the opportunity to benefit not just themselves but their organisation and fellow citizens.

"I want to make a difference," Auru said.

"Competition law back home is uncharted waters. There are no Papua New Guineans with legal qualifications in competition law and it was something we were never taught in law school, so having the opportunity to come here and get the qualifications was a big incentive for me."

Misina agrees the benefits of their studies will be far-reaching; they want to help both consumers and others working in this field in the legal profession.

"We want to get as much out of this as we can because it will impact our organisation and our people," she said.

"We have so many fake goods, and that, as well as prices, are a big concern back home."

"Having this added knowledge to take back home will assist us in our work, and we will be able to mentor other lawyers within the organisation as well."

Auru said there was a sense of "doing something good" in the opportunity they had been presented with.

As well as becoming mentors, they want to influence the University of PNG's School of Law to include consumer and competition law as a subject, something they describe as "almost unheard of" in their homeland.

Misina said the end result would prove highly satisfying.

"Competition and consumer law affects almost everyone, even we are consumers, so the everyday complaints and concerns of people, to know I can do something about it, that is where the most satisfaction comes from. That really puts a smile on my face," she said.

Professor Caron Beaton-Wells, Associate Dean of the Melbourne Law Masters and Director of the Competition and Consumer Law specialty, said MLS was making an important contribution to the field in this part of the world.

"PNG is just one of many countries in our region with a young competition authority," she said.

"A substantial capacity-building effort is needed and, through this Masters program, the Law School is able to make a real contribution to that effort."

Misina and Auru are completing their studies under the Australia Awards, a Federal Government program offering scholarships to people from more than 100 countries to undertake study, research and professional development in Australia.

By Andy Walsh