Date of admission: 2010

Appointed Senior Counsel: 2024

Marty Aust SC is a specialist trial and appellate lawyer with extensive experience in complex criminal matters as Defence Counsel and as a Senior Crown Prosecutor. He has appeared in many high-profile criminal cases, particularly homicide and serious sexual offending matters. Marty also appears in plaintiff common law claims for personal injury arising from institutional abuse. He practices in the High Court and Federal Court of Australia and most Australian Supreme Court jurisdictions. He enjoys a reputation for hard-work, care of his clients and superior knowledge in all practical aspects of advocacy and the criminal law.

Marty served as President of the Criminal Lawyers Association NT from 2017-21, on the Law Society NT Council in 2015-16, is a member of the Northern Territory Bar Association Council and an Editor of the Northern Territory Law Reports. Marty appears as a guest lecturer at Charles Darwin University Law School; and has extensive experience with the AFL Northern Territory as a member of the Appeals Board and as Tribunal Chairperson.

 Marty is a vocal advocate for community education on legal issues and law reforms in the Northern Territory. He has authored numerous journal articles and provides media commentary upon request. He is passionate about social justice and the protection of his clients’ interests, irrespective of the legal issue, dispute, or forum. He accepts private, legal aid and government briefs in a diverse range of matters at advice, trial, and appellate stages.

Marty has a wide-ranging practice, which includes:

• Criminal law, including trials and appeals

• Common law torts including personal injury for sexual abuse survivors

• Criminal property forfeiture proceedings

• Administrative law (Disciplinary/ Regulatory Boards and Tribunals)

• Advice and opinions

• Appeals and reviews processes

• WorkSafe matters

• Coronial inquests and inquiries

• Royal commissions

Selected superior court judgments (medium neutral citation):

• Richards v R [2024] NTCCA 4

• AB v R [2023] NTCCA 8

• R v Thompson [2023] NTCCA 3

• Turner v R [2023] NTCCA 2

• Cooper v R [2022] NTCCA 16

• Roy v O’Neill [2020] HCA 45 (led)

• Ngyuen v The Queen [2020] HCA 23 (amicus written submissions)

• R v JHW [2021] NTSCFC 1

• R v Gurruwiwi [2019] NTCCA 23

• R v Ryan; Miller v R [2019] NTCCA 20

• KG v Firth [2019] NTCA 5 (led)

• Nadjowh v R [2019] NTCCA 6

• Jeffrey v Rigby [2019] NTSC 2 (Full Court)

• Dumoo v R [2018] NTCCA 20

• Smiler v R [2018] NTCCA 2

• Andalong v O’Neil [2017] NTSC 77 (Full Court)

• Thomas v R [2017] NTCCA 4

• Bara v R [2016] NTCCA 5

• The King v Kerinauia [2024] NTSC 57

• The King v JN (No 2) [2024] NTSC 30

• The King v JN [2023] NTSC 78

• Rigby v Burrawanga [2022] NTSC 36

• R v Edwards [2021] NTSC 87

• Firth v Namarnyilk [2021] NTSC 77

• R v Young [2021] NTSC 66

• R v KG [2020] NTSC 24

• Andalong v Jones [2019] NTSC 87

• R v EJGPR [2019] NTSC 30

• Sims v Pultchen [2019] NTSC 16

• Gorrirri v Nicholas & Anor [2019] NTSC 5

• Sanderson v TC (A youth) [2018] NTSC 82

• R v RG [2018] NTSC 85

• R v Skeen [2018] NTSC 28

• Morluk v Firth [2017] NTSC 91

• R v DA [2017] NTSC 2

• R v Campbell [2016] NTSC 61

• Gaykamangu v Court & Anor [2014] NTSC 29

• Sanderson v Rabuntja [2014] NTSC 13

• Wilson v Malagorski (No 2) [2011] NTSC 88

Qualifications:

Bachelor of Laws (CDU; Hons) – 2010

Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (ANU) – 2010