Albany councillor and emergency doctor Thomas Brough has been cautioned by Western Australia’s State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) over comments that falsely linked the LGBTQIA+ community with paedophiles, bringing a lengthy controversy to a close.
Dr Brough, who previously stood as a Liberal candidate and works at Albany Health Campus, was referred to the tribunal by the Medical Board of Australia following complaints made to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). During a settlement proceeding, both parties agreed that his remarks amounted to unprofessional conduct.
The matter stemmed from comments made during a 2024 Albany council meeting while discussing the city’s Pride festival. During the meeting, Dr Brough claimed that the LGBTQIA+ acronym included people who identify as “minor attracted persons.” He later repeated and defended the comments in local media interviews, prompting strong criticism from community members and Albany Pride organizers, who subsequently lodged formal complaints.
The controversy continued throughout 2024 and 2025, generating significant public debate and scrutiny. During his campaign for the Western Australian state election, Dr Brough issued a public statement apologizing for any hurt caused by his remarks.
The tribunal’s latest decision follows an earlier ruling that removed a Local Government Standards Panel order requiring Dr Brough to complete inclusivity training after it was determined that the specified course was not available.
With the SAT proceedings now concluded, the case marks the end of a prolonged dispute that drew attention to professional standards, community inclusion, and public conduct by elected representatives.
+ There are no comments
Add yours