A GP has been suspended under emergency powers for allegedly posting social media tirades against transgender people and doctors carrying out abortions, as well as “endorsing the genocide of racial and religious groups”.

In a case that raises the debate on freedom of speech for doctors, Dr Jereth Kok had argued his conduct posed no threat to patient safety.

However, the Melbourne GP has not practised since August 2019, following his suspension by the Medical Board of Australia.

The board cited 30 different comments by Dr Kok on social media and internet forums that it said were “denigrating, demeaning and slurring” to doctors providing terminations, to doctors who treated gender dysphoria, and also to those doctors who believed people identifying as transgender were not mentally ill.