Labor criticises Coalition decision not to back Australia’s new Centre for Disease Control

The future of Australia’s new Centre for Disease Control has been thrown into doubt after the Coalition refused to say it would back the national agency.

The Coalition’s failure to back a new Australian agency to monitor, research and provide advice on infectious diseases will make the community “less safe” when the next pandemic arrives, Labor has warned.

The future of Australia’s new Centre for Disease Control has been thrown into doubt by the Coalition, which is now arguing the case for creating a national body similar to the one in the US has “not been made” by the Albanese Government.

Labor pledged to establish a CDC at the last election, a move that was applauded by a 2024 independent review into the Covid-19 pandemic, with experts suggesting a central agency would have been able to provide nuanced advice and likely avoid the perceived need for blunt instruments like lengthy lockdowns or school closures.

Health Minister Mark Butler told News Corp experts all agreed there would be another pandemic, and a CDC would be able to provide “independent and authoritative advice”.

“Because of the lack of planning Australia’s pandemic response to Covid was slow, confused and lacked authority,” he said.

“A CDC 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.”

Health Minister Mark Butler. Picture: Jason Edwards / NewsWire

Even though it has not yet ramped up to full capability, the interim CDC has already launched Australia’s national plan for Covid-19, influenza and RSV, as well as set up a fortnightly reporting system on respiratory disease rates.

It is also going to run simulations and monitor emerging risks, like growing measles cases around Australia.

Mr Butler has accused the Coalition of planning to cut the agency to save the $250 million already allocated by Labor.

“Peter Dutton’s stubborn refusal to listen to advice and instead continue his reckless cuts to the CDC is straight out of the DOGE playbook and it will make Australians less safe when the next pandemic arrives,” he said.

Opposition spokeswoman for health Anne Ruston.

A Covid testing site in Chermside in 2022. Picture: Steve Pohlner

The Coalition has claimed the “case has not been made” for the centre to be established, including issues like if it would have authority over states and territories if their chief medical officers produced conflicting advice.

Opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston said there had been “very little detail” about Labor’s promised US-style CDC since the party first committed to creating it.

“Despite being in government for three years, Labor has failed to even release the supporting legislation for public consultation and scrutiny prior to the election,” she said.

Ms Ruston said in 2021, Australia was ranked second in the world for pandemic and epidemic preparedness, in the Johns Hopkins University Global Health Security Index.

Originally published as Labor criticises Coalition decision not to back Australia’s new Centre for Disease Control