Could Doctors Be Silenced for Criticising Israel? Australia's Health Watchdog Adopts New Antisemitism Definition

Australia's top health regulator has adopted a new definition of antisemitism to help guide its work. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, known as Ahpra, announced the move on Wednesday. The definition comes from an international group called the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, or IHRA. Some groups have welcomed the decision, but others worry it could stop health workers from speaking out against Israel's actions in Gaza.

Ahpra's chief executive, Justin Untersteiner, said antisemitism — hatred toward Jewish people — has no place in healthcare. He said the IHRA definition would help Ahpra better understand and respond to antisemitism in its work. 'Everyone should feel safe when accessing care,' Untersteiner said. Ahpra made the announcement together with Australia's special envoy, or government representative, appointed to fight antisemitism.

The IHRA definition describes antisemitism as 'a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews.' It also includes a list of examples of what might count as antisemitism. Critics say some of those examples blur the line between hating Jewish people and simply criticising the country of Israel. This disagreement is at the heart of the debate over Ahpra's decision.

A group called the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, or Apan, has spoken out against the move. Apan warned that health workers could face suspensions or even bans from their jobs because of unfair complaints. It said health professionals have already been reporting fear of getting in trouble for posting on social media about what is happening in Gaza and Palestine. Apan worries the new definition could make that problem worse.

Apan also pointed out that Palestinian health workers have seen hospitals and clinics destroyed in Gaza. Thousands of healthcare workers and patients in Gaza have been killed since the conflict began. Apan said there is growing hostility in Australia toward people who speak up for Palestinian human rights. It believes Ahpra's new policy adds to that pressure.

The peak Jewish body in Australia, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said it welcomed Ahpra's decision. It called the IHRA definition a 'practical, internationally-recognised tool' for identifying and fighting antisemitism. Australia's federal government and a royal commission — a type of major official inquiry — have also backed the IHRA definition. The royal commission was launched after 15 people were killed at a Hanukkah event in Bondi last December in a terror attack.

Ahpra said it is also aware that some people have tried to misuse the complaints system against health workers. Untersteiner said the agency is always reviewing how it handles complaints to stop the system from being 'weaponised.' Ahpra plans to set up an advisory panel of healthcare workers to help improve the process and add stronger protections. The goal is to make sure the system is fair for everyone.

Not everyone in Australia is accepting the IHRA definition. Last month, Australian broadcasters ABC and SBS said they would not use it. They argued they need their own definitions to keep their reporting independent. This shows that the debate over the IHRA definition goes well beyond Ahpra and touches many parts of Australian public life.

The broader conflict behind this story began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel then launched a military invasion of Gaza. More than 75,000 Palestinians are estimated to have been killed in that war. A United Nations inquiry last year labelled Israel's actions in Gaza a genocide, though Israel has strongly rejected that finding.