Words

The tools of the law are words.

Words can move a nation let alone a profession. Words have the facility of giving rights to our fellow Australians where there are none and upholding rights  already held that come under threat. The value of life is essentially determined by the quality of the laws that govern it.

Pablo Neruda said of words:

I drink to the word, raising

a word or a shining cup,

in it i drink

the pure wine of language

or inexhaustible water,

material source of words,

and cup and water and wine

give rise to my song

because the verb is the source

and vivid life - it is blood,

blood which expressed its substance

and so implies its own unwinding-

words give glass-quality to glass, blood to blood.

And life to life itself.

The People Smuggler

Also know as the true story of Ali Al Jenabi, The Oskar Schindler of Asia.

I love how Ali and Robin described me in the book.

Beside writing about the trial/case, Ali also described Greg Smith and I were fearless with a rollicking sense of humour, slim with infectious laugh and fire in the belly.

"Like Smith, Jon Tippett is slim and muscular with a shaved head, I feel like i am part of a football team." Ali Al-Jenabi.

Inked 2015

Like a bird on a wire
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have in my way tried to be free
~ Leonard Cohen ~

About Jon Tippett

Internationally Recognised And

Well Known Barrister

In Australia

HISTORY

I have been working as a Barrister for over 30 years in Northern Territory Australia. I have been involved with cases locally, interstate and internationally.

1982 - 1985

Central Australia Aboriginal Legal Aid Service

1986 - Present

Barrister At Law

2001

Appointed Queen Counsel

(Recommended by Chief Justice of Norther Territory for appointment in 2001.

CRIMINAL LAW 

Murder trials, drug trials including larger importations and other senior work which take me before the juries in Supreme Court and into appellate jurisdictions including the High Court,

CIVIL LAW 

Main in areas of medical and professional negligence, torts, work health matters, employment law, insurance and shipping law.

CORONIAL INQUIRIES   

I have appeared in numerous coronial inquiries as counsel assisting and other parties.

FOOTBALL TRIBUNALS

i have appeared on behalf of both coaches and players.

ROYAL COMMISSIONS 

Lindy Chamberlain Royal Commission

Aboriginal deaths in Custody Royal Commission

INTERNATIONAL CASES (TIMOR LESTE)

The trial of Angelita Pires alleged attempted murder of two heads of state as lead counsel.

Jose Encarnacau - Murder trial as lead counsel

The Political Mind Set

My concern is that politicians, or at least to many of them, believe that the rights of the individual and fundamental freedoms to which the modern democratic state aspires, are so important that criminal lawyer, who are often at the forefront of upholding them, should have the honour of doing so for free, or at least at a considerably reduced fee. As Oscar Wilde observed there are times when charity can create a multitude of sins and no more of it s used to fill the gaping crevasse carved out by the inadequate provision of legal over the terms of successive governments in this country.