Law Report 'Pseudolaw' in the courts: Can you pay a legal debt with an IOU?
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Jun 24, 2025 Join Associate Professor Harry Hobbs from UNSW Law School as he dives into the intriguing world of pseudolaw. He discusses Warren Tredrea's bold claim that a written IOU can settle a legal debt, challenging traditional legal principles. Hobbs explores the rise of pseudolaw in South Australia and its disruptive effects on the courts, including delays and potential scams. He highlights the dangers of legal illiteracy and the appeal of extremist ideologies, shedding light on an increasingly relevant issue in the legal landscape.
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Warren Tredray’s Court Battle
- Warren Tredray is a high-profile Port Adelaide footballer who was sacked as a Channel 9 sports presenter during COVID-19 and sued for wrongful dismissal.
- He lost the trial and appealed, and Channel 9 later sought to recover its legal costs from him.
IOU Claim And Legal Tender Myth
- Tredray argued he discharged a six-figure debt with a handwritten IOU claiming only gold and silver coins are legal tender.
- Harry Hobbs calls this a repeated, legally unsuccessful reading of the Constitution and Currency Act.
Why The Legal Tender Argument Fails
- Pseudo-legal claims latch onto constitutional wording to argue only gold and silver coin can be legal tender.
- Parliament and statute have repeatedly established that paper money is legal tender, defeating that reading.
