The Australian Medical Association welcomes the introduction of legislation in the federal parliament that will formally create a stand-alone Centre for Disease Control (CDC).
The AMA has been the flag bearer in calling for an Australian CDC, which will help ensure we are better prepared for the next pandemic and future health challenges.
AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen said the AMA has led the call for an Australian CDC, publishing its position in 2017.
"In our 2017 position statement we called for the immediate establishment of an Australian National Centre for Disease Control, with a national focus on current and emerging communicable disease threats, global health surveillance, health security, epidemiology and research," Dr McMullen said.
"The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the critical need for a coordinated, expert and independent body in Australia to manage current and emerging disease threats."
"It's very reassuring to see the legislation that will create this independent body being introduced into parliament and I encourage all parliamentarians to get behind it."
Dr McMullen said the AMA supported the establishment of the Australian CDC as a statutory agency under the Australian Centre for Disease Control Act 2025, and believes its credibility will rest on strong, clinical and scientific expert leadership.
"The appointment of a politically neutral, highly qualified Director-General is vital to ensure the CDC becomes Australia's most trusted source of expert advice in public health, including pandemic preparedness and disease prevention," she said.
"The AMA continues to advocate for the CDC to be informed by a diverse range of professions, such as clinical medicine, epidemiology, public health, environmental health, occupational and environmental medicine, disaster medicine, veterinary and agricultural science, social sciences, ethics, technology, and communications.
"The CDC will play a key role in bringing together science with real time monitoring of diseases and must draw on the expertise of coalface clinicians such as general practitioners to ensure practical connectivity across all components of the health system."
Dr McMullen said the AMA was looking forward to working very closely with the CDC on public health issues, including preparedness for the inevitable next pandemic.
