Promise check: Establish an Australian Centre for Disease Control

At the 2022 election, Labor promised to establish an Australian Centre for Disease Control. Here's how that promise is tracking.

Person in protective gear holding test tube to be bagged

Before the 2022 election, Labor promised to establish an Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in order to improve pandemic preparedness and response.

According to a media release from October 2020, Labor's Australian CDC would:

House surveillance experts and systems to monitor current and emerging threats;
Work with state and territory governments and service providers to improve preparedness in the health and aged care sectors;
Manage the National Medical Stockpile, including analysing needs, procuring and managing stock and distributing supplies as needed;
Run regular preparedness drills on the scale of Exercise Sustain in 2008; and
Work with other countries on regional and global preparedness.

A policy document on Labor's website adds that the CDC would ensure ongoing pandemic preparedness, lead the federal response to future infectious disease outbreaks and work to prevent non-communicable (chronic) as well as communicable (infectious) diseases.

Assessing the promise

This promise will be considered delivered if an Australian Centre for Disease control is funded and established during Labor's first term of government.

Here's how the promise is tracking:

19 May 2023

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

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Promise check: Establish an Australian Centre for Disease Control