A New Zealand lawyer, attacked at the weekend in a nightclub in the Papua New Guinea capital, Port Moresby, is in a stable condition in a Townsville hospital.
Erik Anderson, one of Papua New Guinea's most prominent expatriate lawyers, was socialising with friends on Saturday night when he was attacked.
A woman, who did not want to be identified, says she was dancing with Mr Anderson and a group of others when two men attacked the lawyer.
Mr Anderson, who is in his 40s, was treated for head injuries at a Port Moresby hospital before being flown to Townsville.
His injuries are said to be substantial.