7National Health Security Agreement

#### 7 National Health Security Agreement (1) The Minister, on behalf of the Commonwealth, may enter into an agreement with the States, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory for any one or more of the following purposes: (a) providing for the sharing of information between the Commonwealth, the States and the Territories in relation to communicable diseases, in order to enhance: (i) the understanding of the epidemiology of those diseases; and (ii) the understanding of the threats of those diseases; and (iii) the ability within Australia to respond to those diseases; (b) formalising and enhancing consultation between the Commonwealth, the States and the Territories in relation to public health events of national significance; (c) enhancing the ability within Australia to identify and respond quickly to public health events of national significance; (d) facilitating the monitoring of public health events of national significance within Australia. (2) Subsection (1) does not, by implication, limit the executive power of the Commonwealth to enter into agreements. > Note: This subsection allows the National Health Security Agreement to cover purposes other than those mentioned in subsection (1).