New laws to deter doctors from harassing or intimidating people who make AHPRA complaints against them came into force this week.

They were originally touted after the failed attempt by a GP to murder a pharmacist who had reported him to the watchdog back in 2018.    

Dr Brian Holder was later convicted of attempting to kill pharmacist Kelly Akehurst after she flagged concerns that he was inappropriately prescribing benzodiazepine to eight Indigenous women.

At the time, she was told by AHPRA that disclosing her name would expedite the referral as it would “carry more weight”.