The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, a move that has drawn both praise and criticism.
Ahpra adopts IHRA definition
In a joint statement with the federal government's special envoy to combat antisemitism, Jillian Segal, Ahpra announced on Wednesday that it would use the IHRA definition for its regulatory work. The definition describes antisemitism as 'a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews' and includes illustrative examples that critics argue conflate antisemitism with legitimate criticism of Israel.
Ahpra's chief executive, Justin Untersteiner, said antisemitism 'has no place in healthcare' and that the agency is committed to eliminating it from the health system. The definition has been endorsed by the federal government and the antisemitism royal commission launched after the Bondi terror attack in December 2023.
Concerns over silencing criticism
The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (Apan) warned that the move could lead to healthcare workers facing suspensions or bans due to 'egregious and vexatious complaints' that silence political expression about Israel's actions in Gaza and Lebanon. Apan noted that since October 2023, healthcare workers have reported fear of professional consequences for speaking publicly about Gaza and Palestine.
Last year, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners reported that GPs had faced frivolous complaints to the health regulator over social media posts opposing Israel's war in Gaza. Untersteiner acknowledged concerns about the 'weaponisation of the notifications process' and said Ahpra is reviewing its vexatious notifications framework and establishing an advisory panel to strengthen safeguards.
Support from Jewish groups
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) welcomed Ahpra's adoption of the IHRA definition, calling it a 'practical, internationally-recognised tool to identify and combat antisemitism.' Segal also commended the move, arguing in her 2025 report that all levels of government and public institutions should adopt the definition for a unified framework.
Broader context
Reports of antisemitic, anti-Palestinian, and Islamophobic incidents have risen in Australia since Hamas's attacks on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Israel's subsequent military invasion of Gaza has resulted in more than 75,000 Palestinian deaths, according to estimates. A UN commission of inquiry labelled the war a genocide, a charge Israel has rejected.
