A High Court challenge has been launched after the commonwealth placed the construction union into administration.

Former CFMEU national president Jade Ingham claimed the federal government had “usurped” the justice system.

“It’s our belief that these laws are unconstitutional, undemocratic and they are definitely un-Australian,” he said in Brisbane on Tuesday when confirming the challenge had been filed.

“Any political party that’s engaged in union bashing over the years never survives.

“It’s not a very smart political play. It’s never worked for the conservatives and I’m really, really surprised that the Labor Party thought that it would work for them.”

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus placed the union’s construction and general division into administration last month, alongside all of its state and territory branches.

Laws giving the relevant minister powers to intervene and slap life bans on CFMEU officials passed the parliament in August.

The government’s move followed allegations of corruption and bikie infiltration within the CFMEU.

In the days since the laws passed, the CFMEU had signalled it would start a court challenge.

Ingham said a crowdfunding campaign was launched on Tuesday to support the High Court battle.

He said union members were furious their voices had been excluded by the government crackdown.

“They understand that this is not just about the CFMEU, that this is a very dangerous precedent to be set,” he said.

“And what the Labor Party have done is given a blueprint to the conservatives of this country to attack trade unions – that’s the danger in this.”

The crowdfunding campaign aimed to provide public awareness, education, advocacy and financial support in their court battle, Mr Ingham said.

“My hope through this campaign is that people come to understand the importance of not just our union, but of unions generally,” he said.

“Men and women joining unions and organising collectively is not a crime and they’re sick of being treated like they’ve done something wrong for being members of a union.”

Union bosses across the country vowed to fight the administration when tens of thousands marched throughout the nation last week, branding the Labor government a traitor to the labour movement.

Up to 50,000 workers attended a rally in Melbourne and thousands more went out in Sydney, Brisbane and other regional capitals, ignoring threats their pay could be docked by taking the unprotected action.

“Trade unionism has been under attack in this country for decades. This is just the latest attack,” Mr Ingham said.

“It’s unfortunate that it’s come at the hands of the Labor Party, but so be it. Such is life.”

Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt, who oversaw the passing of the laws allowing for administration, last week said they were written to withstand a legal challenge.

– AAP