What was debated in Parliament
Summarised using AI from the official Hansard transcript of the debate only. It is not a record of the debate and may leave things out. Read the Hansard below to check it.
This bill sets up the Australian Centre for Disease Control from 1 January 2026, an independent agency led by a director-general to advise governments, share health data and prepare for future pandemics, as recommended by the COVID-19 inquiry. The debate covered whether the centre is needed, its transparency and data-sharing powers, and whether it should cover chronic disease and climate health from the start. Labor and the Greens supported it, the Coalition and One Nation opposed it, and the Senate added Greens amendments including a seat for a disabled person on its advisory council.
Arguments made in support
The Government said the COVID-19 inquiry found Australia had no pandemic playbook, weak data sharing and no national public health body.
Government members said Australia was the only OECD country without such an agency, and its advice would be independent and published.
Labor speakers said better linked data across states would help detect risks faster and give consistent advice across borders.
Government members said starting with infectious diseases and reviewing in 2028 would set the centre up to succeed before widening its role.
Greens and independent members supported the centre, saying public health experts had called for one for decades.
Arguments made against, or for changes
Coalition speakers said the bill was rushed and should have had public Senate hearings, citing Australia's high pandemic preparedness ranking.
The Coalition said broad powers to withhold advice and new FOI exemptions reduce transparency, and data-sharing declarations need independent approval.
Coalition members said moving biosecurity powers away from the Chief Medical Officer to a department head could lower public confidence.
Independents and Greens said chronic disease and climate health should be covered from day one, funding was too low, and appointments should be independent.
One Nation and some Coalition members said the centre could repeat what they described as COVID-era overreach on people's freedoms.
123 speeches by 51 members in the House and Senate over 8 sitting days.
Hansard: House of Representatives, 3 Sept 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 8 Oct 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 9 Oct 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 27 Oct 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: Senate, 30 Oct 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: Senate, 4 Nov 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: Senate, 5 Nov 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Hansard: House of Representatives, 6 Nov 2025 ›
The official Hansard (PDF), Parliament of Australia
Every party member who voted went with the majority of their party.