Defending Rights, Reason, and the Rule of Law: A High Court Challenge Against Rushed Gun Legislation

My name is Douglas Anderson. I am a solicitor and principal of Terra Australis Legal Pty Ltd in Brisbane, I am also a farmer on the NSW/QLD border, where firearms are not a hobby but an essential tool for protecting livestock and controlling feral pests that threaten our livelihood.

Today, we are taking a stand for the nearly one million responsible, licensed firearm owners across Australia.

In the wake of the tragic Bondi incident—an act of violence that horrified us all—state and federal governments have proposed the most significant and restrictive changes to Australian gun laws in decades. These changes have been formulated without meaningful consultation with the very communities they will devastate: farmers, dealers, distributors, sporting shooters, and rural Australians.

This is not simply poor policy; it is a fundamental breach of process and principle. We believe this legislative rush is:

1. Unconstitutional: It potentially oversteps the Commonwealth’s powers under the Constitution, infringes on the implied freedom of political communication regarding public debate on safety, and violates principles of natural justice by sidelining stakeholders.

2. Ill-Prepared: Developed in a reactive vacuum, it ignores the practical realities of primary production, pest control, and the legitimate sporting and recreational shooting industry, risking unintended consequences for biosecurity and rural economies.

3. Financially Catastrophic: It would render legitimate property worthless overnight, cripple small businesses in the trade, and impose severe burdens on law-abiding citizens, all without making our communities safer.

Our Mission: On behalf of the 1 million firearm owners, and those associated with the industry: A High Court Challenge.

Our firm is preparing to file an injunction and mount a formal High Court challenge to halt this reckless legislative overreach. Our goal is to compel the government back to the table, to engage in a genuine, evidence-based consultation process with all vested groups, so that fair, effective, and proportionate policies can be developed.

Why We Need Your Support.

A High Court battle is a monumental undertaking. The financial barriers are significant:

· The Initiating Application fee alone is $3,300.

· To argue a case of this national importance, we must engage the finest Constitutional KCs and senior counsel in the country.

· Total estimated costs for hearings, preparation, and court time range from $150,000 to $500,000, depending on the duration of the litigation.

for my part, Terra Australis Legal. will take no fees at all from the GoFundMe money. Our part in these proceedings will be pro bono. The money will only go for disbursements to Barristors and KCs who will carry this matter through the legal system.

We are committed to funding the initial stages, but we cannot win this fight alone. This is a defence of every licensed firearm owner, every rural business, and every community group that believes in due process and reasoned law-making.

Your contribution is not just a donation; it is an investment in:

· Constitutional integrity and holding power to account.

· Saving livelihoods and small businesses across regional Australia.

· Ensuring your voice is heard before the highest court in the land.

We are acting with urgency. The timeline for these laws is short, and our window to challenge is now.

Please stand with us. Help us defend reason, rights, and the responsible Australian shooting community.

With sincere thanks,

Douglas Anderson

Solicitor & Director, Terra Australis Legal Pty Ltd

Farmer & Advocate