Cottrell lodged an appeal, applying for his case to be heard in the High Court of Australia and arguing that he had been charged under an "invalid law". This was thrown out in February 2019, and he tried to have the matter heard in the Supreme Court of Victoria. The district court judge ruled that there were matters to be decided in her court, such as his intentions in making the video, before the case could proceed to a higher court, and set a date for the appeal to be heard in the County Court.
Cottrell filed an appeal, seeking to have his case reviewed in the High Court of Australia on the grounds that he had been charged under an invalid law. His appeal was rejected in February 2019, and he attempted to have the matter heard in the Supreme Court of Victoria. The district court judge ruled that there were unresolved matters to be decided in her court, including Cottrell's intentions behind creating the video, before the case could proceed to a higher court, and set a date for the appeal to be heard in the County Court.