The time has come for an Australian centre for disease control

Abstract

Australia is now unique in being the only Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development country without a recognised separate authority for national scientific leadership in communicable disease control. Different nations have different models to deliver this function, but all are composed of professionals with a degree of independence from government, to ensure that there is a clear separation between politically sensitive decision making, and the advice and tools needed to inform best practice from a technical perspective.