Refusal of firearms licence should have been challenged by appeal to District Court

The High Court has refused leave to seek judicial review of a Chief Superintendent's decision to deny firearm licences. The refusal was based on concerns for public safety, stemming from the applicant's failure to provide contact details for persons allegedly given his dogs after a reported incident. The applicant, who represented himself, had previously appealed a similar decision to the District Court without success and did not pursue an alternative statutory appeal before seeking judicial review. The court found no arguable case of a fundamental breach of fair procedures or lack of jurisdiction that would warrant bypassing the alternative remedy of a District Court appeal.