Teal MP’s Push for Mandatory Climate Health Reporting via Australian CDC Rejected

Parliament voted down Teal MP Monique Ryan’s bid to include mandatory reporting on the health effects of climate change in the soon-to-be-permanent Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC).

Ryan, who represents the Victorian seat of Kooyong, sought to make the health effects of climate change a core responsibility of the Australian CDC.

She moved an amendment to the Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill 2025 to add “the health effects of climate change” to the list of public health matters in the CDC’s remit.

The teal MP sought to introduce a mandatory reporting mechanism whereby the minister would be required to prepare a biennial statement on the health effects of climate change.

“Amendment (5) will introduce mandatory reporting on matters of national importance, the health effects of climate change, and pandemic preparedness. Its purpose is to inform. That should be a core responsibility of the Centre for Disease Control,” Ryan told parliament (pdf).

“It will ensure accountability and transparency of the centre’s activities and the whole of-government preparedness for public health emergencies.”

Ryan argued that a dedicated report on the health impacts of the climate would improve national knowledge to confront future public health challenges.

“A high level of visibility and understanding of this area of public health will better inform climate adaptation and mitigation strategies across all agencies and all levels of government,” Ryan said.

“A mandatory reporting regime will strengthen the centre’s core purpose. It will safeguard the centre’s role as a trusted source of scientific knowledge serving the national interest. And so I commend these amendments to the House.”

Ryan also told parliament, “The next pandemic could be months away—or even less time than that.”

The amendment was defeated with only 12 in favour and 75 against.

Health Minister Mark Butler expressed appreciation for Ryan’s position but did not ultimately support her amendments.

“I’ve been an advocate in this area for many years, firstly as a spokesperson for the Labor Party on climate but since shifting to the health portfolio as well. That will be a piece of work for the CDC,” he said.

“We don’t support the detail of the amendment the member for Kooyong has proposed today, although I suspect there will be an ongoing debate about that and a number of other matters the member has raised as this bill progresses, as I hope it will, to the other place.”

Butler encouraged crossbench members to remain engaged in the bill as it reaches the Senate, keeping the door open to further changes.

Permanent CDC Introduced

The Australian CDC is due to begin operating on Jan. 1, 2026. As a statutory agency within the health minister’s portfolio, it will be accountable to parliament.

It currently operates as an interim agency.

Butler said the CDC would serve as the national leader and “authoritative voice” on public health.

“This bill establishes a permanent, evidence-based institution to ensure that Australia is better prepared, more united and more accountable in the face of future public health threats,” Butler said.

“Establishing a permanent Australian CDC through this bill will deliver on our commitment to create an independent agency that will help protect Australia from diseases and other public health threats.”

During debate on the CDC bill, Member for New England Barnaby Joyce warned about taxpayer dollars being given to private corporations during COVID and raised fears the same would happen for climate change.

“They are doing it again. That time it was COVID. The next one is the big C—climate change,” he said.

The Australian CDC bill passed the House of Representatives and is now before the Australian Senate. The Coalition opposed the legislation.