Fighting for the right to have Annie by his side: Jim’s story

For Jim, shooting was never just a hobby.

It was something that got him outside, kept him active, and gave him purpose. As a member of the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (Qld), participating in Conservation & Wildlife Management (CWM) projects was part of how he managed his mental health.

Then, just days before a planned project, everything changed. An email landed in his inbox.  He could attend, but not with Annie.

“I have always been a participant when it came to sports and since my retirement, I have pursued a number of leisure activities, principally hunting and shooting based. The CWM projects were as much about the social aspects as the hunting,” says Jim.

Annie is a trained and accredited psychiatric assistance animal and an essential part of Jim’s support system. Jim relies on her to help manage his depression. Under Australian law, she is recognised in the same way as any medical aid or treatment.

A month later, the association formalised its position: no assistance animals would be allowed on any of their wildlife management projects, on any private property, at any time.

Safety first… or discrimination?

The association said the decision was about safety. They argued that Annie could be a distraction, and therefore a risk to Jim, other participants, and livestock. And because the rule applied to all animals, they said it wasn’t about Jim personally.

But that wasn’t how the law sees it.

Annie wasn't just any animal. She had undergone extensive training, was not reactive to gunfire, and had participated in hunts with Jim in the past without issue. She was the reason Jim could fully participate in the first place, and without her, he was effectively shut out. Assistance animals exist so people with disability can access everyday life without being sidelined. If you’re wondering if a club can ban assistance animals in Australia, then the short answer is this: blanket bans are very likely to be considered unlawful under federal discrimination law.

When his complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission didn't resolve the issue, Jim turned to Maurice Blackburn for help.

As Jim’s lawyers, we argued that under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth), you can’t separate a person from their assistance animal. Excluding someone because of that animal is the same as excluding them because of their disability. 

An otherwise qualified member could attend. Jim could not. That's discrimination.

The Federal Court sets the record straight

In December 2025, the Federal Court of Australia agreed.

The Court found that the association's reasoning couldn't be separated from Annie's presence, and Annie's presence couldn't be separated from Jim’s disability. The two were inextricably linked.

In other words, the exclusion was because of Jim’s disability.

The Court ordered the association to pay Jim’s compensation for the harm and humiliation he suffered, to cover his legal costs, and to allow him to participate in future projects with Annie.

A win beyond the courtroom

This case sends a clear message.

You can't sidestep discrimination laws by framing a decision as being about something else, like “safety”, if the real impact is to exclude someone because of their disability. For people who rely on assistance animals, that matters.

Clubs and associations have legal obligations under Australian laws. And when they fall short, there are options.

"I am hopeful that my case will reinforce the rights of assistance animals and their owners," says Jim, "and to some extent, it will show that discrimination is not acceptable.”

“I always thought that I had a good case and that it was well presented. I would recommend Maurice Blackburn for anyone who is pursuing a similar case.”

What Jim’s ruling could mean for other assistance animal handlers

If your trained assistance animal has been refused entry to a club, shooting range, venue, hotel, restaurant or transport service, that refusal may be unlawful unless a limited exception applies.

Under federal discrimination laws, businesses and organisations open to the public cannot simply impose blanket bans on assistance animals. If your animal is appropriately trained and you can provide evidence of its behaviour, hygiene and suitability for public access, you may have legal protections.

For many handlers, an assistance animal is not a convenience, but an essential support that helps them safely and confidently participate in everyday life.

What the law says about clubs and private property

A common question we hear is whether clubs or private venues can ban assistance animals in Australia.

Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth), clubs, associations and businesses that provide goods, services or facilities to the public are generally prohibited from discriminating against people who rely on assistance animals - even where the premises are privately owned.

These protections can apply to people living with physical, sensory, psychiatric or psychosocial disabilities. Importantly, the law focuses on whether the assistance animal is properly trained and able to meet appropriate standards of behaviour and hygiene in public places - not on assumptions, stigma or blanket policies.

How Maurice Blackburn can help

No one should be excluded from something they value because of their disability. If you or someone you know has been treated unfairly at a club, association, workplace, or otherwise, because of a disability or assistance animal, you may have a legal claim.

We’re here to help you understand your rights and your options. Contact us for a confidential discussion.