New CDC to Bring Australia in Line with OECD Nations, Fix Pandemic Readiness

The Albanese Government has announced to allocate $251.7 million (US$165 million) to establish Australia’s first Centre for Disease Control (CDC). As the only OECD country without an equivalent disease control organisation, this positions Australia in line with other member nations. Labor’s Health Minister Mark Butler highlighted the urgency for a CDC, citing Australia’s lack of preparedness for COVID-19, which resulted from the absence of a national pandemic response drill over the past 12 years. “Because of the lack of planning Australia’s pandemic response to COVID was slow, confused, and lacked authority,” he said. The COVID-19 Inquiry Report released on Oct. 29 confirmed the country entered the pandemic with no concrete strategy, limited medical stockpiles, and strained aged and healthcare systems. It further exposed significant coordination failures between federal and state governments, leading to widespread confusion and chaos....