At the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Congress in Melbourne on 4 May 2026, Dr Jillian Spencer was pushed to the ground by security, dragged down the stairs, and ejected from the conference — all for silently holding a handmade sign that read: “RANZCP KICKED OUT DR AMOS. WHY?”
The incident occurred during the opening keynote plenary in front of approximately 1,000 psychiatrists. Dr Spencer made no noise, disrupted no speaker, and simply held the sign above her head while slowly walking up the aisle.
Why Dr Spencer Protested: The Case of Dr Andrew Amos
Dr Spencer was protesting the RANZCP’s suspension of her colleague, Queensland psychiatrist Dr Andrew Amos, a vocal critic of the gender-affirming model of care for children.
In February 2026, Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency invoked its emergency “immediate action” powers after receiving four complaints (three anonymous) about Dr Amos’s posts on X. The complaints centred on statements such as:
“There is no reliable evidence that trans identification can be differentiated from psychosis,” misgendering a UK activist, and describing a man breastfeeding as the “embodiment of narcissism.”
AHPRA banned Dr Amos from all clinical practice and prohibited him from posting on social media about gender medicine. The RANZCP then automatically withdrew Dr Amos’s College membership under its constitution. He received no prior warning and no opportunity to respond.
Dr Spencer — herself stood down from Queensland Children’s Hospital in 2023 after questioning gender interventions — saw this as another clear case of institutional censorship.
The Protest and Ejection
Before the keynote, Dr Spencer quietly distributed flyers about Dr Amos’s situation. During the plenary, she silently raised her sign. Security demanded she leave. She remained standing peacefully. According to her formal police witness statement:
“The security officer grabbed me by my arm and pulled me to the ground… then dragged me down the stairs.”
RANZCP CEO Damian Ferrie told her the sign was “unapproved advertising,” tried to seize it, and cancelled her registration. Dr Spencer later corrected media reports, stating she was pushed over, not simply escorted.
Was a Silent Protest Sign Really “Advertising”?
The RANZCP’s initial justification — that a silent, one-off protest sign in the aisle of their own congress counted as “advertising” — has been widely ridiculed. The sign was not commercial, not promotional of any product or service, and not even a call to action. It was a simple, factual question directed at the College itself about its treatment of one of its own fellows.
This raises serious questions about abuse of authority. When a professional college uses security and cancellation of registration to shut down peaceful, silent questioning of its own decisions, it sends a clear message to every psychiatrist in the room — comply or be removed.
Striking Hypocrisy
While Dr Spencer was being dragged out, the RANZCP was hosting multiple “Gender issues in psychiatry” sessions and a prominent LGBTIQA+ morning tea with rainbow flags. The College, which claims to champion “Reform and Renewal: Towards Healing, Equity and Trust,” appears to support open dialogue only when it aligns with one ideological side.
Backlash from Within the College
The response has been swift. On 5 May, 24 RANZCP psychiatrist members co-signed a formal letter to the RANZCP President expressing “deep concern” over the “distressing incident” and the “physical assault” on Dr Spencer. The letter highlights the stark contrast with the President’s own Opening Address, which spoke of compassion, respect for rights, and standing against injustice. It requests a full explanation and assurance that silent protest will be respected in future.
The President is obliged to respond formally in the next Psych-e-bulletin.
Dr Spencer has also publicly shared her full police statement to counter claims in some activist circles that she “lay on the floor herself.”
Implications for the Medical Profession
This incident reveals a concerning pattern. Doctors who question puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries on minors face stand-downs, AHPRA investigations, loss of College membership, and, in this case, physical removal from professional events.
While some European countries are restricting these interventions due to concerns about evidence and risk, Australian psychiatrists raising similar questions are facing professional consequences. The potential chilling effect on medical debate is significant.
Ongoing Fallout
When a psychiatrist can be ejected from her own professional conference for silently asking a question, it raises broader concerns about professional discourse in Australia.
The RANZCP continues to promote its commitment to “Reform and Renewal: Towards Healing, Equity and Trust.” At the same time, this incident has led some to question how dissenting views are handled within the College.
Dr Spencer has lodged her formal witness statement regarding the alleged assault. The RANZCP President is expected to formally respond to the letter signed by 24 psychiatrists in the next Psych-e-bulletin.
Meanwhile, Dr Andrew Amos’s AHPRA restrictions and RANZCP suspension remain in place, with no final outcome reported.
This matter remains ongoing and continues to attract attention from both clinicians and the public.