Company Fined $2,500 for Failing to Comply with Ahpra Investigation
Summary
A West Australian court has upheld AHPRA's power to compel evidence production during investigations, marking the first prosecution for this offence under the National Law. Siena Beauty Pty Ltd was fined $2,500 and ordered to pay $5,000 in legal costs after pleading guilty to failing to comply with a Schedule 5 Notice to Produce Information. The company, a practice management company for a registered health practitioner's clinic, failed to provide financial records regarding supplements and alternative treatments despite receiving multiple extensions of time.
Practice management companies and businesses affiliated with registered health practitioners should ensure their compliance procedures include timely responses to AHPRA information requests. The confirmed criminal liability for non-compliance—with penalties of $2,500 plus legal costs—applies even when the company itself is not the subject of the investigation but holds records relevant to a practitioner's conduct or performance review.
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GovPing monitors AU AHPRA for new healthcare & life sciences regulatory changes. Every update since tracking began is archived, classified, and available as free RSS or email alerts — 5 changes logged to date.
What changed
A West Australian court sentenced Siena Beauty Pty Ltd on 21 April 2026 after the company pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a Notice to Produce Information issued under the National Law. Magistrate Andrew Matthews imposed the fine and cost order. This is the first prosecution for this specific offence since the National Law came into effect, establishing that businesses affiliated with registered health practitioners can face criminal consequences for obstructing AHPRA investigations.\n\nHealthcare businesses, including practice management companies and clinics employing registered practitioners, should treat AHPRA information requests as legally binding obligations. Failure to comply without reasonable excuse is now confirmed as a criminal offence carrying financial penalties. AHPRA's CEO explicitly stated the agency will take enforcement action including prosecution where necessary.
Proceeding
- Date
- 2026-04-21
- Location
- Western Australia
Penalties
Fined $2,500 and ordered to pay $5,000 towards AHPRA's legal costs
Archived snapshot
Apr 24, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Company fined for refusing to comply with an Ahpra investigation
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A landmark court decision has resulted in a company being fined for failing to cooperate with an Ahpra investigation, the first such case under the National Law.
Key points
- A company has been fined after pleading guilty to failing to comply with a Notice to Produce Information.
- A West Australian court upheld Ahpra’s powers to compel the production of information during an investigation.
- This was the first prosecution for this offence under the National Law. A West Australian company has been fined for failing to provide financial information regarding the sale of supplements and the use of alternative treatments and devices by a registered health practitioner, as requested during an Ahpra investigation.
Siena Beauty Pty Ltd, a practice management company for a registered health practitioner’s clinic, was charged by Ahpra after it failed to comply with a Schedule 5 Notice to Produce Information. The Notice was issued as part of an Ahpra investigation into the conduct and performance of a registered health practitioner and required the company to produce specified financial records.
After being granted several extensions of time to comply with the Notice, the company failed to provide the requested information and did not provide a reasonable excuse for failing to do so.
This was the first prosecution for this offence under the National Law.
The matter was listed for trial on 21 April 2026 but ultimately the company pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced the same day. Magistrate Andrew Matthews fined the company $2,500 and ordered it to pay $5,000 towards Ahpra’s legal costs.
Ahpra’s CEO Justin Untersteiner welcomed the court’s decision and said it was important for businesses to know that Ahpra has the power to compel them to provide evidence to support investigations.
‘Failing to comply with an Ahpra investigation undermines Ahpra’s ability to protect the public and is a criminal offence,’ Mr Untersteiner said.
‘This case serves as a clear reminder to practitioners and businesses of the importance of cooperating fully with Ahpra investigations, and that Ahpra will take enforcement action, including prosecution, where necessary.’
The Medical Board of Australia has referred a number of concerns about a registered health practitioner involved in this investigation to the Western Australian State Administrative Tribunal.
‘Failing to comply with an Ahpra investigation undermines Ahpra’s ability to protect the public and is a criminal offence,’ - Ahpra CEO Justin Untersteiner.
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