Australian Centre for Disease Control BACKGROUND AHHA POSITION

Public health services need to be strategic and coordinated as well as flexible and credible to ensure effective prevention, detection, and responsiveness to public health needs. [...] Australian Government to circumvent existing arrangements • work with the state and territories to establish clear lines to establish a National Cabinet comprising state, territory and of authority, areas of responsibility, and response federal leaders. [...] • work with states and territories to strengthen, coordinate The October 2022-2023 Budget invested $3.2 million to and manage surge workforce capabilities, mapping the consult on the establishment of an Australian Centre for public health workforce to better understand gaps, Disease Control (AusCDC). [...] • protect the physical and mental health of the workforce AHHA POSITION responding to disease threats through training and The establishment of an AusCDC as a statutory body is resources that ensures a nationally consistent approach. [...] It should: • transparently consider legal and ethical issues that • establish a cohesive and coordinated response across balance the protection of individual liberty with public disease surveillance, research, technical advice and public health responsibilities, such as in relation to the messaging and be appropriately positioned to respond to imposition of restrictions, police powers to enforce p.