My Laminar Principle: A New Way to Speak the Truth with Structure, Strength and Integrity

When people come to me, they’re often at breaking point. They’re tired, they’re traumatised, and they’ve been dismissed—by employers, by systems, by silence. They have powerful stories. But too often, they’ve been told their truth is “too emotional,” “too messy,” or “too hard to follow.”

The truth doesn’t need to be tidied up—but it does need to be structured.

That’s why I created what I call my Laminar Principle. But it began as something deeply personal: a method forged through advocacy, grounded in experience, and inspired by my commitment to truth-telling with clarity and respect.

Brian AJ Newman, LLB - Creator of the Laminar Principle

Why I Called It My Laminar Principle

I named it the Laminar Principle because I drew inspiration from laminar flow—a scientific concept where fluid travels in clean, uninterrupted layers. That idea struck a chord with me. I wanted to create a way for people to move through their evidence without turbulence—without spiralling or being swept away by emotion, confusion or contradiction.

But there was another source of inspiration I want to acknowledge here—Tony Buzan’s mind mapping principles. I’ve sworn by them for years.

Buzan taught us how to fracture complex problems into digestible parts—how to lay things out in a way the brain could actually process. That approach stuck with me. In many ways, my Laminar Principle is built on the same foundation: break it down to understand it, and build it back up to be believed.

So this principle—my Laminar Principle—is the marriage of two worlds: emotional truth and structural logic. It gives voice to the person and clarity to the decision-maker.

How My Laminar Principle Works

My Laminar Principle is a five-layered framework that organises evidence so that each part of a person’s story is presented separately, yet powerfully:

1. Who I Am and Why I’m Here - The witness starts by stating who they are, their connection to the matter, and why they’re speaking.

2. What Happened - A clean, chronological timeline of the relevant events—just the facts, free from interpretation.

3. How It Affected Me - This layer stands apart—here, the witness speaks to the emotional, cultural, financial or psychological impact.

4. What I Did About It - A record of the steps taken to raise concerns, seek help or escalate the issue—and how those actions were handled.

5. What I Need Now - A clear expression of the resolution or outcome the witness is seeking, and what remains unresolved.

Each layer is standalone but part of a greater whole. Like a mind map, it separates ideas to make them digestible—and like laminar flow, it moves the narrative forward without disruption.

A Tool for Truth—and for Testing It

While I created my Laminar Principle to help people present evidence truthfully, it’s become clear that it also functions as a critical integrity-checking tool.

Because of its structure, collusion and dishonesty often expose themselves. Copy-and-paste statements, over-synchronised timelines, and unnatural language repetition become glaring under this model. If someone’s trying to manipulate the system, the layers reveal the cracks.

This principle doesn’t just support truth-telling. It protects against deception.

Why I Believe in This Work

I didn’t design this model in a textbook. I shaped it in the real world—during late-night calls, in conciliation rooms, while holding space for people who felt like no one else was listening.

I know what it means to carry truth in a world that doesn’t always want to hear it. And I also know that structure, when done right, doesn’t silence people—it lifts them.

That’s what my Laminar Principle is about: lifting people.

Take My Laminar Principle and Use It

Whether you’re preparing a witness statement for a tribunal, responding to a workplace investigation, lodging a human rights complaint or supporting someone through the process—my Laminar Principle can give your story structure, flow and strength.

It’s for the worker, the carer, the advocate, the survivor, and the person simply seeking fairness.

You can learn more, access a free template, or get in touch directly at bajn.au.

This is my original contribution to advocacy in Australia. I hope it helps you find the clarity and courage to speak your truth—and be heard.

Brian AJ Newman, LLB

Employment and Human Rights Advocate