The Albanese Government is investing $251.7m to deliver Australia’s Centre for Disease Control (CDC).
 
Before we came to Government, Australia was the only OECD country without a CDC equivalent.
 
The former Government had not led a national pandemic drill for 12 years and we were woefully under prepared for the COVID pandemic.
 
As the COVID-19 Inquiry Report highlights, Australia went into the COVID pandemic with no playbook for the pandemic, limited readiness of the National Medical Stockpile, and badly stretched aged and health care systems.
 
The COVID-19 Inquiry calls for an Australian CDC and that is what the Albanese Government is delivering.
 
In October 2020, Labor committed to establishing a transparent, trusted and independent CDC.
 
In January 2023, we established the interim Australian CDC to immediately improve the way we prepare for and respond to health emergencies.
 
Today we are announcing ongoing arrangements for the Australian CDC.
 
The Australian CDC is consistent with the model recommended by the COVID-19 Response Inquiry.
 
It will ensure Australia has a national organisation that brings together critical information and experts to deliver coherent, timely, trusted health advice to improve health outcomes for the whole country.
 
The interim Australian CDC has already undertaken considerable work to strengthen Australia’s preparedness levels to respond to future health challenges.
 
The Government has already run pandemic drills this term of Government through Exercise Volare. This is strengthening our biosecurity measures against avian influenza which has significant risks to Australia, including our unique wildlife and poultry.    
 
The interim Australian CDC will continue to operate as part of the Department of Health and Aged Care until the launch of the independent CDC. This is expected to be on 1 January 2026, pending passage of legislation through federal parliament.
 
The headquarters of the Australian CDC will be located in Canberra.

As at 29 October 2024.