Dr Beverley Peers disputes strict medical board restrictions at the Supreme Court
A veteran doctor who expressed “anti-vaccination views” online has been banned from making similar posts on social media while identifying as a medical professional.
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A Melbourne doctor who “promoted anti-vaccination” views online has failed to overturn strict medical board conditions, including restricted social media posting
It comes as Dr Beverley Peers took her fight with the Medical Board of Australia to the Supreme Court, impugning restrictions on her registration imposed earlier this year.
She has been a registered medical practitioner for more than 40 years.
Court documents revealed these included her not being able to, “while identifying herself as a medical practitioner” on social media, endorse any Covid vaccine views inconsistent with Department of Health and Aged Care or Australian Immunisation Handbook guidelines.
The board said this was a consequence of a video interview Dr Peers appeared in last year where she “expressed views which were anti-Covid-19 vaccination and ... seeking to undermine confidence in the Australian Government’s Covid-19 program.”
“Dr Peers’ views are given further legitimacy by her identifying herself as a medical practitioner during the interview,” the board said.
“The Board reasonably believes that this poses a serious risk to persons and the public.”
These conditions were imposed in March 2025 after it had proposed to suspend her months earlier.
Dr Peers argued that a person’s job did “not preclude them from political speech protected under the implied freedom of political communication” in the constitution.
During the investigation Dr Peers told the board her Facebook was “no longer active” and there was “no evidence” she had posted anti-vaccine views since 2021, claiming she was being punished for posts she had made four years ago.
Though the board said these posts were not considered in its decision making.
She also submitted that the board’s concerns were “moot” given all the relevant public health orders had been repealed.
Judge Andrew Watson said the board’s actions did not burden on any implied freedoms of political speech.
“The condition regarding public statements does not restrict Dr Peers from engaging in political communication regarding Covid-19 vaccines – it only restricts her from identifying herself as a medical practitioner,” he said.
Dr Peers described her conditions as “tantamount to suspension” — something His Honour disagreed with.
“The conditions imposed by the Board do not prevent her from practising – they are not akin or tantamount to suspension,” he said.
The court ruled that Dr Peers application should be dismissed.
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