Australia is about to get a centre for disease control. How will it tackle public health challenges? | Allen Cheng for the Conversation

The Australian government has announced the establishment of a permanent Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC), set to commence operations on January 1, 2026. This move aims to improve the country's public health response and address various challenges, including bird flu, immunization, misinformation, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. The creation of the CDC has been a long-standing proposal, with epidemiologist Prof. Bob Douglas raising the question of its necessity in the Medical Journal of Australia in 1987. The draft legislation for the CDC was recently tabled in parliament, marking a significant step towards its implementation. The article highlights the immediate issues the CDC is expected to tackle, while acknowledging that many details about its specific roles and functions are yet to be determined. A key concern is ensuring the CDC remains apolitical and can effectively coordinate public health responses across the nation.