Invisible enemies and national security

Given the dominance of infectious disease there seems little doubt that epidemics and pandemics can no longer simply be the sole preserve of the physician or Public Health specialist.  

The argument that infectious disease threatens our National Security rests on the proposition that the health of Australia’s population is a critical resource vital to our nation and that epidemics and pandemics not only threaten our way of life but also target the viability of our nation. Epidemic and pandemic threats involve every aspect of modern life, including human rights, travel, commerce and trade and education.

In Australia, national security continues to be interpreted very narrowly as largely representing security against territorial aggression and physical threats to our overseas citizens. It is largely concerned with preserving the integrity of the Commonwealth of Australia, its territorial boundaries, its political institutions and its relationships with other countries.

Our failure to recognise public health as a critical part of our national security plan threatens our very existence and allows our government in times of infectious disease outbreaks to simply throw the responsibility over to health professionals.

Today, as coronavirus demonstrates, infectious disease recognises no borders and the risks to all Australians are so great that simply relying on traditional public health approaches may well be inadequate. Furthermore, governments cannot do it alone.

Currently Australia operates with a matrix of infectious disease surveillance systems run by the Commonwealth and all states and territories. Overall, there is a general lack of cooperation, coordination and planning at a national level and little interaction between the different systems.

All states and territories and the federal government must agree on a combined strategy addressing epidemic/pandemic preparedness, response and recovery. To fully achieve this, we need to have a national security strategy that recognises infectious disease as something which threatens all our lives and wellbeing.

Without a healthy, fearless citizenry Australia cannot prosper, expand its economy, secure its borders and maintain national and international integrity. Arguably, the health and wellbeing of all its people is a critical resource vital to our nation and that epidemics and pandemics not only threaten our way of life but also target the viability of our nation.

If the Australian Government cannot guarantee the health of all its people, then it is failing its most fundamental responsibility.

There is little doubt that infectious disease is one of the greatest dangers to Australia’s security. The underlying message is that infectious disease needs to be at the top of our national security agenda.