09 October 2025
In 2025 the Australian Government is seeking to create an Australian Centre for Disease Control to help combat and prevent health risks like the covid-19 pandemic that occur in the future.
In order to be effective the Consumers Health Forum of Australia contends that this centre needs to be independent, trusted by consumers and inclusive.
The CHF has created a submission that will help guide the Government's bill towards these aims.
Our central message is simple: Technical expertise alone is not enough.
We recommend that the Committee:
Amend the Bill to guarantee consumer and lived-experience representation on the Advisory Council.
Amend the definition of “public health matters” to explicitly include consumer engagement and community health.
Insert a statutory function requiring the Director-General to establish and resource consumer and community engagement mechanisms.
Require an annual Consumer and Community Engagement Plan and public reporting modelled on New Zealand’s quality and safety reporting.
Provide for rapid-consultation mechanisms during emergencies and mandate an independent review of engagement within three years.
To read the full submission head to our submissions page.
