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 advice to the government on communicable diseases
Operating a national database on communicable diseases
Sending out early alerts for potential outbreaks
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.
Why didn't Australia have a CDC before?
Australia is one of the few OECD nations that did not have a permanent center for preparing and responding to public health crises. However, an interim CDC has been operating within the Department of Health since January 1, 2024.
The Labor party promised to establish a permanent CDC during the 2022 election campaign and funded the new body with $90.9 million in the 2023-24 budget.
The establishment of the CDC is a significant step towards improving Australia's preparedness for future pandemics and other public health emergencies.