ASMOF NSW unequivocally condemns all forms of racism, xenophobia, antisemitism, Islamophobia, hatred and discrimination in healthcare. Every doctor, healthcare worker and patient has the right to a safe, respectful environment free from hatred, intimidation, harassment, and discrimination.
Our Union represents more than 10,000 doctors across NSW, all of whom are registered under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme administered by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). As a result, AHPRA's decisions have a direct and significant impact on our members.
ASMOF NSW is deeply concerned by AHPRA's decision to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism as a reference tool in its regulatory work.
While we strongly support efforts to eliminate all forms of racism, including antisemitism, within healthcare, we are concerned that aspects of the IHRA Working Definition and its accompanying examples risk conflating legitimate criticism of government policies and actions with antisemitism. This creates uncertainty for medical practitioners and raises concerns about the potential impact on lawful public commentary, humanitarian advocacy and evidence-based public advocacy on matters of public interest.
Doctors have a professional and ethical responsibility to speak out on matters affecting health, human rights and patient welfare. ASMOF NSW is concerned that AHPRA's adoption of the IHRA definition risks suppressing legitimate professional advocacy and public debate by creating uncertainty about what forms of commentary may attract regulatory scrutiny. Doctors should not face the threat of complaints, investigations or reputational damage for engaging in lawful advocacy, academic discussion or humanitarian commentary.
We are particularly concerned that the definition may facilitate vexatious or politically motivated notifications, further weaponising a complaints process that can impose significant personal and professional costs even where allegations are ultimately dismissed. AHPRA must protect practitioners from racism and discrimination while also safeguarding their right to participate in lawful public discourse and ensuring that regulatory processes cannot be misused to silence legitimate advocacy.
Australia already has comprehensive legal, professional and regulatory frameworks prohibiting discrimination, harassment and vilification, including anti-discrimination legislation, the National Law, professional codes of conduct and workplace policies. These frameworks already provide substantial powers to address racist, discriminatory and unprofessional conduct without creating uncertainty around lawful professional expression.
ASMOF NSW calls on AHPRA to:
- Rescind its adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism and instead rely on robust, universal anti-racism frameworks and existing Codes of Conduct and professional and legal standards that protect all practitioners and patients equally, without risk of political partiality or inconsistent application;
- Strengthen safeguards against vexatious, politically motivated or bad-faith notifications and ensure that the notifications process cannot be misused to supress lawful professional advocacy or public debate.
- Undertake meaningful consultation with unions, health practitioners and other relevant stakeholders before implementing regulatory measures that may affect practitioners' rights and professional obligations.
- Provide clear guidance and assurances that lawful political expression, humanitarian advocacy, academic freedom, evidence-based medical advocacy and commentary on matters of public interest will not, of themselves, attract regulatory action, and
- Ensure that efforts to combat antisemitism are accompanied by an equal commitment to addressing Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian racism and all other forms of racism and discrimination in healthcare.
ASMOF NSW remains committed to working constructively with AHPRA and the broader health sector to eliminate all forms of racism and discrimination in healthcare. We remain committed to defending the rights of doctors to engage in lawful public commentary, humanitarian advocacy, academic debate and evidence-based public advocacy without fear of inappropriate regulatory consequences.
