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Politics Reloaded is raising funds to challenge the NSW Police's refusal to release critical documents under "Government Information (Public Access)" laws - or GIPA.
GIPA is known as 'Freedom of Information' or 'Right To Information' laws in other states.
At stake is the public's right to know what policies are being developed that affect lawful firearm owners and the shooting sports community across Australia.
Check out our recent episode of Gun News Australia about this fundraiser.
The matter has been filed at NCAT
This matter has now been filed in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) with the first hearing scheduled for 7th May - so there's no turning back now.
Here is the notice of our first hearing:
What We're Fighting For:
NSW Police denied our GIPA (FOI / RTI) request for meeting minutes from the Firearms and Weapons Policy Working Group – which is the federal 'round table' of our state and territorial firearms registries.
We believe these documents will reveal coordinated policy changes being planned behind closed doors that will significantly impact shooting sports and lawful firearm ownership.
Why This Matters:
Over recent years, we've seen increasingly restrictive regulations implemented in Western Australia, NSW, and at the federal level.
With the South Australia election now behind and Victoria going to the polls in November, we have no doubt there are plans to try to introduce similar laws after their elections – without meaningful public consultation or transparency.
The information request and response
We started this fight in February 2025. The end result of that was that NSW Police refused to release us the documents (mainly meeting minutes) we were after.
After months of legal arguments, the Information and Privacy Commission (IPC) found NSW Police rejected three key arguments the NSW Police were relying on.
In late February this year, the IPC responded, rejecting arguments that the NSW Police relied on, finding that:
- hiding non-operational policy discussions contradicts principles of integrity and transparency in public service; and
- is in the public interest to reveal the information
- NSW Police did not have "real and substantial grounds" for their refusal; and
- there was no justified overriding public interest to keep the information secret
The IPC's 'bottom line' is:
"The reviewer recommends under section 93 of the GIPA Act that the Agency [NSW Police] make a new decision by way of internal review"
In response, NSW Police refused to make a new decision - paving the way for this challenge.
This is what they said:
On 16 March 2026, we filed the proceedings in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Our Goal:
We need to hire a legal expert specialising in GIPA (FOI) law to:
- Challenge the NSW Police's refusal to release these documents
- Ensure government accountability and transparency
- Reveal what policy changes are being coordinated across state lines
- Give the shooting sports community a chance to participate in the democratic process
That's why we need your help.
Shooters need a transparent government
Whether you're involved in shooting sports or simply believe in government accountability, your contribution will help ensure that policies affecting millions are developed in the open, not in secret meetings.
Aussie shooters need to know what their registries - that they pay hefty fees to - are up to behind their backs.
All funds are being accounted for separately by Politics Reloaded.
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#GIPAACT
#NCATCase
#NSWPoliceAccountability
#FirearmsPolicy
#ShootingSports
#PoliticsReloaded
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#AustralianShooters