First public warning issued under new laws

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) has issued its first public statement under new public safety laws — a power that came into force two years ago. Suspended West Australian practitioner Peter Terzi, also known as Peter Taylor, is the subject of Ahpra’s first public statement. Terzi/Taylor held dual registration as a dentist and a nurse and was suspended from practising in both professions since 26 February 2025.

Terzi/Taylor remains under investigation and may, Ahpra believes, be continuing to present himself as a registered dentist or nurse while he is suspended and unregistered. In issuing the public statement, Ahpra said it believes Terzi/Taylor “poses a serious risk to persons because of his conduct”.

Terzi/Taylor is currently also facing criminal charges for two counts of knowingly and recklessly holding himself out as a registered dentist, contrary to section 116(1)(c) of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (WA) Act 2010, and one count of carrying out a restricted dental act contrary to section 121, which are before the West Australian courts. Ahpra says he has entered a plea of not guilty to those charges.

“We take the matter of issuing public statements very seriously and will only ever issue such statements in exceptional circumstances where the public needs to be informed from a safety perspective,” Ahpra CEO Justin Untersteiner said. “The threshold for issuing a public statement is set at a high level.

“The decision to issue a public statement may only be made when Ahpra or a National Board form a reasonable belief that a practitioner or person poses a serious risk to the public,” Untersteiner continued. On the significance of issuing the statement, he said it “means we can warn the public while we continue to take steps to assess and investigate matters that could raise a serious risk to the public”.

Ahpra said that strict confidentiality obligations in the National Law prohibit it from commenting on the reasons for making the public statement — but stated that a full natural justice process was followed in accordance with the National Law. Terzi/Taylor was also provided with all the information pertaining to the decision to make a public statement and given an opportunity to make submissions as required by the law.

Anyone who suspects they have employed Peter Terzi/Taylor, may have received treatment from him, or has information that he has claimed to be a dentist or a nurse since 26 February, is being urged to contact Ahpra’s Criminal Offences Unit on 07 3149 4771 or by emailing criminal.offences@ahpra.gov.au. More information on ‘public statements and warnings’ is available here, via the Ahpra website.

Image credit: iStock.com/Dusan Ilic