The New South Wales Government says it is concerned passengers on cruise ships could be spreading infectious diseases and wants a national cruise ship health surveillance program.
Over the last seven years the government says more than 2300 travellers have been affected by outbreaks of diseases like typhoid fever.
The state's Health Minister, John Hatzistergos, says he has written to the federal government seeking its co-operation on the matter.
He says given the increasing numbers of international cruise ships coming to cities like Sydney, the threat posed by infectious diseases should not be ignored.