Tony Whitelum
Tony Whitelum
alice springs
Tony joined Morgan Buckley in 1992. Prior to joining our firm, he had practised as an employed solicitor and then partner with a well-established firm in South Australia.
Twelve years of practice in country SA led to an exposure to almost all areas of the law.
A strong background in litigation sees Tony spending much time at Court litigating as both Counsel and Instructing Solicitor.
Professional activities
- Member of the Law Society of the Northern Territory.
- Member of the Law Society Executive.
- Member of the Law Council Access to Justice Committee.
- Member of the Law Council of Australian Legal Practice Section.
- Member of the Australian Lawyers Alliance.
- Director AFL Central Australia.
Professional work experience
- Commenced practice in 1980 in S.A..
- Partner in well established firm in S.A. for 8 years.
- Joined Morgan Buckley in 1992.
- Partner of Morgan Buckley from 2000 to present.
Appointed to act on the legal panel for:
- Territory Health Services including medical negligence matters, Compensation (Fatal Injuries) Act matters, and Family Matters Court applications.
- The Territory Insurance Office (Housing), conduct of litigation in Local Court including recovery actions, rental recovery and recovery of possession; Northern Territory Attorney-General’s Department Crimes (Victims Assistance) matters including appeals to the Supreme Court.
- Northern Territory Prison Officers Association.
- Various indigenous organisations in the Alice Springs region including Lhere Artepe, the traditional owners of Alice Springs
Specific projects
- Ferguson v BHP was, at that time, the highest award made by the South Australian Supreme Court for back injury.
- Mitchell v Castrol: a matter litigated in the Northern Territory Work Health Court from the first instance to the Full Court, Supreme Court stating the law as to "out of or in the course of employment" for travelling salesman.
- Sutherland v Channel 10 - a defamation case where the Plaintiff sued Channel 10 for defamatory comments made on the Bert Newton Show by Collette Mann as a result of the relative failure of one of her comedy shows in Whyalla, South Australia.
- Successfully negotiated, on behalf of the Northern Territory, the settlement of 13 applications pursuant to the Crimes (Victims Assistance) Act by a lady for sexual abuse by her step-father. The potential exposure for the Northern Territory was $235,000 with settlement being achieved at $85,000.
- Ross-Manly v The Age - a defamation case wherein the plaintiff obtained a record judgment of damages for defamation in the Northern Territory.
- Bryan v NT - a case in which the Plaintiff was butted by a ram during the course of her employment. The Plaintiff successfully sued to breach of contract and negligence, and obtained judgment of $1.2 million.
- Exclusive legal services to the Department of Health & Community Services in Alice Springs.
- Legal services to Family & Children's Services acting for both the Minister and as child representative in Family Matters Court.
- DIPE in relation to a wide range of legal problems that generally speaking are restricted to actions in negligence against the Department.
- TIO as the agent for all government departments in relation to claims made pursuant to the Work Health Act.
- Solicitors for Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation which is a prominent Aboriginal Corporation comprising three family groups that hold native title over the township of Alice Springs and its surrounds. Very recently transferred to freehold title to our client of 40 lots of residential property known as Stirling Heights.
- Legal provider to family of traditional elders from Hermannsburg in relation to the Palm Valley Land Claim Number 48. The land encompasses the Palm Valley Flora & Fauna Reserve now known as the Finke Gorge National Park. Issues relate to whether some members of our client's clan are traditional owners, and whether the Park has been "legally" Gazetted and transferred to the Northern Territory Government. The Federal Government is yet to act on the recommendations made in the Report of the Land Commissioner.
- Retained by Pitjantjatjara Council to attend a three day conference in Adelaide to negotiate with the South Australian government in relation to the proposed amendments to the Pitjantjatjara Land.