The Queensland Liberal/National Party coalition has announced it will commit up to $42 million over four years towards establishing the Australian Institute for Tropical Health and Medicine in conjunction with James Cook University with facilities in Townsville, Cairns, and the Torres Strait.

 

Deputy Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls said the Institute would also provide training programs, particularly in disease surveillance and control and risk identification, and help to build an integrated health security network focused on significant biosecurity threats.

 

Prof Ian Wronski, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Medicine, Health and Molecular Sciences at JCU, welcomed the LNP statement.

 

"This is the first time at a state level that anyone has built a policy that takes this on board," he said, adding the Federal Coalition had pledged $40 million to establish the institute before they were defeated at the 2010 election.