Australia to Establish Permanent Centre for Disease Control
The Australian government has announced the creation of a permanent Centre for Disease Control (CDC) to monitor and respond to public health risks like COVID-19. This decision comes amidst growing warnings of future pandemics and the need for improved preparedness.
Monitoring domestic and international disease trends
Providing independent, evidence-based advice to the government on communicable diseases
Operating a national database on communicable diseases shared between federal, state, and territory governments
Sending out early alerts for potential outbreaks of diseases like avian influenza and new strains of the coronavirus
Updating plans for disease outbreaks in collaboration with federal and state health departments
Communicating these plans to the public
Working with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
The CDC will be operational from January 1, 2026.
The establishment of a permanent CDC is a significant step forward for Australia's public health preparedness. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for a dedicated agency to monitor and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. The CDC will play a crucial role in protecting Australians from future health threats.
Australia is one of the few OECD nations that did not previously have a permanent CDC. However, an interim CDC has been operating within the Department of Health since January 1, 2024. The Labor government promised to establish a permanent CDC during the 2022 election campaign and allocated $90.9 million for the new body in the 2023-24 budget.
The interim CDC has been working on responses to the expected arrival of a deadly strain of bird flu in Australia, as well as other public health initiatives. The permanent CDC will build upon this work and provide a more comprehensive and coordinated approach to public health preparedness and response.