Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The government has backed this reform with serious investment—$251.7 million over four years to established the CDC and $73.3 million in ongoing annual funding from 2028-29. That is a long-term commitment to building national capability. At the national level this reform would transform the way Australia manages public health threats. The CDC would become the central hub for public health expertise, supporting both the Australian government and state and territory agencies to respond consistently and effectively when emergencies arise. It would strengthen pandemic preparedness by ensuring our national medical stockpile, testing capacity and response plans are regularly reviewed and updated. It would coordinate surveillance for infectious diseases, track emerging risks and build rapid response capacity. It would provide an authoritative public voice during health emergencies, cutting through misinformation with clear evidence based information.

The COVID-19 inquiry found that confusion and mistrust flourished when communication was inconsistent. The CDC would help fix that. This bill also reinforces Australia's global standing. The CDC would work closely with international bodies like the World Health Organization to share expertise and support global health security. As we saw during COVID, disease threats do not stop at national borders. A strong Australian CDC would help protect not only our country but our region.

If I turn to Tasmania, this bill is particularly important for my home state. Tasmania's geography brings both strengths and vulnerabilities. Our isolation can help slow the spread of disease, but it also makes it harder to access supplies, staff and support when emergencies strike. During COVID-19 Tasmania faced major challenges. It took a toll on our health workforce and our communities. A national CDC would ensure that Tasmania is never left behind in national planning and response. It would give our public health experts direct access to national data, resources and expertise. It would also help coordinate responses to future risks from respiratory illnesses in aged care to zoonotic diseases that could affect our farming and agriculture industries.

Tasmania's local health authorities already do outstanding work. The new CDC would not replace them. It would strengthen them. The CDC's data-sharing systems would make it easier for Tasmanian public health teams to identify outbreaks early and target support where it is needed. Because the CDC would embed a one-health approach, it would also support research into how climate and environmental factors affect health, something that matters deeply to Tasmania. As the climate changes, we are seeing shifts in disease patterns. Mosquito borne illnesses, like Japanese encephalitis, are moving further south. The CDC will help track and prepare for these changes, so communities like ours can stay safe.

This reform will also have real benefits for Tasmania's economy and community resilience. Health emergencies are not just health issues; they affect business, schools, tourism and local government services. By improving national coordination, the CDC will help keep communities open and economies stable when future crises occur. That's good for work, it's good for families, and it's good for small businesses that depend on certainty. This legislation is a clear expression of Labor values. It's about fairness, safety and collective responsibility. It recognises that public health is a public good—something we all depend on and must build together.

It also reflects Labor's belief in strong public institutions. Under the former government, the Australian National Preventive Health Agency was abolished in 2014. That decision weakened our national capacity to respond to public health challenges. This bill puts prevention back at the heart of our health system. It aligns with other major Albanese government initiatives, from strengthening Medicare and mental health to improving pandemic preparedness and protecting aged care residents. It complements the work of the National Health and Climate Strategy, which recognises that climate change is not only an environmental challenge but a health one. It supports the goals of the Measuring What Matters framework, which commits us to tracking wellbeing and resilience, not just economic growth. And it contributes to our broader national resilience agenda, ensuring Australia is better equipped to withstand shocks, from natural disasters to biosecurity threats. Labor's approach to government is about learning from the past and building stronger systems for the future.

The establishment of the CDC also has positive gender and equity impacts. A gender impact assessment found that the CDC will help address the disproportionate health effects of communicable diseases on women, First Nations people, people with disability, culturally diverse communities and those facing economic disadvantage. This is not just about managing pandemics; it's about making sure that, when health risks arise, our response protects everyone, especially those most at risk. Labor believes that every Australian deserves equal access to safety, information and care.

The COVID-19 inquiry also highlighted the importance of trust. During a crisis, people need to know that the information they are receiving is accurate and transparent. This bill enshrines transparency as a guiding principle of the CDC's work. The Director-General must publish advice that includes recommendations and make that advice accessible to the public. This is how we rebuild and maintain trust in public health: by letting the evidence speak for itself. It's also why the bill establishes strong oversight for an advisory council, which must include at least one Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander expert in health. The council will ensure that diverse voices, including community and cultural expertise, inform the CDC's priorities and actions.

The Albanese government has carefully designed this reform to be both effective and sustainable. Funding of $251.7 million over four years has been allocated, and ongoing funding from 2028-29 will ensure stability and capability into the future. The CDC will be governed under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act, ensuring clear lines of accountability and prudent use of public resources. It will also be subject to regular reviews—the first after two years of operation and then every five years—to ensure it remains contemporary and effective. That means that this agency will evolve as our understanding of health threats evolves.

The Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill 2025 is one of the most significant health reforms in a generation. It fulfils Labor's commitment to create an independent, transparent, national body to protect the health of all Australians. I commend the bill to the Senate.