Phil speaks with Adj. Prof. Terry Slevin, CEO of the Public Health Association of Australia, who warns: “We are grossly unprepared for the next pandemic.”

On the five-year anniversary of the WHO declaring COVID-19 a pandemic, leading public health experts are raising alarms about Australia’s lack of preparedness for future health emergencies.

Experts from the Public Health Association of Australia and the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases are urging political parties to prioritize public health funding, including the establishment of a permanent Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC).

Prof. Slevin emphasizes that while Australia managed COVID-19 well, the country risks being less prepared for another outbreak. He stresses the importance of learning from past challenges and investing in long-term health security.

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