Anti-vax Lindisfarne GP and former One Nation hopeful could be deregistered after Facebook rants

A suspended doctor and former One Nation candidate who believes Covid is a “bioweapon” is being pursued by the national Medical Board. How he allegedly went down the “rabbit hole”.

Lindisfarne Doctor Stephen Hindley and his wife Sue outside TASCAT. Picture: Chris Kidd

A suspended Hobart doctor with potent anti-vaccine views is being pursued by the Medical Board of Australia for alleged “wild west” behaviour during the Covid pandemic.

Stephen Hindley, 67 admits he made “colourful” comments on social media – and says he lost his temper with allegedly “offensive, demeaning, intimidating, threatening” words to officers dealing with a complaint against him.

However, Dr Hindley – who ran as a One Nation candidate for the seat of Franklin last year – claims he was in an ethical conundrum as a doctor, and that “extraordinary times called for extraordinary measures”.

The board suspended the Lindisfarne GPs registration in 2021 after several allegations came to the attention of national health watchdog, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

On Monday, Dr Hindley represented himself in a Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearing brought by the Medical Board, which is seeking a number of sanctions against him – including that he be deregistered for four years.

Board lawyer Ben Jellis said in September 2021, Dr Hindley allegedly told a Covid-vaccinated patient she was stupid and “would eventually get cancer and die”.

Lindisfarne Doctor Stephen Hindley and supporters outside TASCAT. Picture: Chris Kidd

After Dr Hindley was told of the anonymous AHPRA notification, he allegedly accessed the patient’s phone number via clinic records and called her about the complaint.

He’s also been accused of “abusive and belittling” comments to AHPRA officers, calling them words like cowardly, “a gang of criminals”, uneducated, lazy, bastard, idiot, “invertebrates” and “government stooge”.

Lastly, he’s accused of publishing vaccine views on his website and public Facebook page, which as a registered medical practitioner were contrary to public health advice.

Mr Jellis said Dr Hindley made comments online like Covid was a “bioweapon”, that 9/11 was “an inside job” and that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was a “Hebe (Hebrew) motherf---er”.

He said he also described AHPRA officers online as “second-rate ret--ds” and an individual a “lame excuse for a human being”.

Lindisfarne Doctor Stephen Hindley outside TASCAT. Picture: Chris Kidd

“Cease and desist you petty c---s,” Dr Hindley allegedly posted online about AHPRA.

“What I do outside work is none of your f---ing business.”

Dr Hindley also allegedly criticised Victorian Premier Dan Andrews’ management of the Covid crisis.

“You crooked warlike c---s, if you think your Chinese masters gave you a good kicking when you fell down the stairs, just wait until you feel the weight of the Australian boot,” Mr Jellis said he posted.

Mr Jellis said the board had kept the AHPRA communication and online posts in documents, and submitted these to the tribunal.

“This isn’t the wild west, this is not conduct that’s consistent with being a fit and proper person to work in the medical profession,” he said.

“The standards are substantially below the standards of the profession. In many respects this presents as a sad illustration of the dangers of social media and disappearing down the rabbit hole, and the potential loss of empathy and respect for others that can sometimes bring about.”

The board is calling for Dr Hindley to be reprimanded, for his registration to be cancelled and for him to be disqualified from reapplying for four years.

It is also asking the tribunal to prohibit him using the term “doctor” until he is re-registered, and to not provide any medical services until that time.

Dr Hindley, giving evidence, said he faced a “huge legal and ethical dilemma” during the pandemic.

He said he felt that by giving the Covid vaccine, which he said was hugely dangerous and had no benefits, he would be committing the crime of assault.

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“It was not possible for me to obtain freely-given informed consent,” he told the tribunal.

“It was a catch 22 – if I obeyed the national law, I would be performing a criminal act.

“I took the Hippocratic oath and I took it seriously.”

He said he regretted his “colourful” language towards AHPRA officers and on social media, but denied he shouted at a patient and told her she would get cancer and die.

Dr Hindley, who was supported outside the tribunal building with a large group of people bearing placards, said he did not intend to return to work as a doctor.

Tribunal deputy president Alison Clues reserved her decision, to deliver at a future date.