A new economy cannot be separated from the question of governance: who makes decisions, whose interests are prioritised, and how communities can hold power in systems increasingly shaped by commercial influence. In this conversation, GP and population health educator Dr Peter Tait outlines why good governance is foundational to human and ecological wellbeing, and why civil society must become more active in reshaping the political process. The discussion explores practical pathways to democratic renewal — including electorate-level accountability, deliberative forums such as citizens’ assemblies, and more direct democratic models that move beyond “showing up to vote and having a sausage”. Throughout, Peter argues that economies do not exist as abstract forces; they are the product of choices, rules, and decision-making systems — and those systems can be redesigned to better serve the public good.

Dr Peter Tait is a practising general practitioner who works in mental health and alcohol and other drug care, and teaches population health at the Australian National University. Through clinical medicine, public health, and long-term engagement with environmental and peace initiatives, he came to identify governance failure as a recurring cause behind many of the harms affecting communities and ecosystems. He convenes the Canberra Alliance for Participatory Democracy, supporting stronger civic participation and practical pathways toward good governance, and is committed to advancing decision-making systems that protect wellbeing and the public good.

Voices of the New Economy is a collaborative storytelling project of NENA. The podcast is produced by the Humanitarian Changemakers Network (HCN), an Anchor Organisation of NENA, as part of its commitment to strengthening economic literacy, amplifying community innovation, and supporting pathways to systemic change. Each episode features researchers, practitioners, organisers, and everyday changemakers working across disciplines and communities to re-imagine how our economies can serve people and planet.

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Get involved: NENA members and friends are warmly invited to participate in the podcast — as interviewees, storytellers, or contributors to the NENA Storytelling Hub. To get involved, visit the Hub page or email: nena@neweconomy.org.au