A fresh fundraising effort for Israel Folau has already amassed nearly $500,000 in donations, just hours after it was launched by the Australian Christian Lobby.

The organisation relaunched a campaign for the former Wallabies star on their website after Folau’s successful GoFundMe page was shut down on Monday.

By 10am on Tuesday, more than $440,000 had been donated via the link on the ACL site – with the group also promising to tip in $100,000 of their own money. 

ACL Managing Director Martyn Iles said the organisation has relaunched the appeal following a strong community response. 

“There is an outpouring of support for Israel Folau from the Australian community, who see Israel’s case as their case. They feel the pinch of political correctness, and the erosion of their basic freedoms.” 

“The success of the Folau fundraiser was giving ‘quiet Australians’ a voice.” 

“By launching an alternative fundraising site to GoFundMe today, we are ensuring that the voice of quiet Australians continues to be heard, and Israel Folau continues to know that he is not alone.” 

It comes after Israel Folau’s camp hit out against GoFundMe’s decision to shut down his online fundraising campaign to raise money for his case against Rugby Australia.

Folau launched his appeal for $3 million on Friday and had raised more than $750,000 within four days.

But the fundraising platform on Monday said it was pulling the campaign because it violated their terms of service, and that it was issuing full refunds to the more than 7000 donors.

“As a company, we are absolutely committed to the fight for equality for LGBTIQ+ people and fostering an environment of inclusivity. While we welcome GoFundMe’s engaging in diverse civil debate, we do not tolerate the promotion of discrimination or exclusion,” GoFundMe Australia’s regional manager Nicola Britton said.

Folau wanted money to fund his legal battle against Rugby Australia, which terminated his $4 million contract in May after he posted a biblical passage on social media stating that hell awaited “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters” unless they repented.

A spokesman for Folau said the campaign was in line with GoFundMe’s terms and conditions, as well as all relevant rules and regulations.

“Unfortunately, GoFundMe has buckled to demands against the freedom of Australians to donate to his cause,” the spokesman said.

“There appears to be a continuing campaign of discrimination against Israel and his supporters.”

Several organisations have already expressed interest in supporting efforts to raise money for Folau’s legal case, the spokesman said.

Folau has launched legal proceedings with the Fair Work Commission against Rugby Australia and is seeking up to $10 million in damages.

More than 95,000 people had signed an online petition calling on GoFundMe to take down Folau’s page, noting its purpose was against the website’s terms and conditions.