Introduction by Croakey: The inaugural Commerce, Economy, Trade and Public Health Conference, hosted by the Public Health Association of Australia and supported by VicHealth last month, was an opportunity to hear from public health experts about pathways to a healthier and equitable future.
Wellbeing economies, shifts in power imbalances, and collective actions are critical to future health and wellbeing, the conference was told.
Below, VicHealth’s report on the conference includes insights from:
- Professor Emeritus Ronald Labonté, University of Ottawa
- Professor Sharon Friel, Australian National University
- Dr Benn McGrady, Georgetown University Law Center
- Dr Bronwyn King AO, Tobacco Free Portfolios
- Dr Michelle Maloney, New Economy Network Australia
- Professor Kelley Lee, Simon Fraser University
- Dr Jenn Lacy-Nichols, University of Melbourne
- Dr Beau Cubillo, First Nations Senior Research Fellow, Menzies School of Health Research.
The article was first published by VicHealth with the headline, ‘Pathways to healthier corporate practices‘, and is republished here with permission.
VicHealth writes:
Led by the Public Health Association Australia and supported by us, the inaugural Commerce, Economy, Trade and Public Health Conference brimmed with conversations about the pathways towards a healthier, more equitable future.
Across the sessions, two central themes emerged: the need to rebalance power from corporations to communities, and the crucial role hope plays in shaping a better future. These concepts highlight the importance of addressing systemic imbalances while fostering optimism and collective action to pave the way for lasting change.
Read on to learn from the wisdom of some of the public health experts we heard from, as we unpack these themes, share our summaries of key insights and point to some useful resources.
Rethinking public health in commercial and economic systems
Professor Emeritus Ronald Labonté opened the conference by talking about the potential of a wellbeing economy. He emphasised the goal is not to oppose businesses but to ensure that health outcomes have the opportunity to catch up to and align with evolving business practices.
Until a fairer balance is achieved, it’s necessary to slow down our economic growth. To do this we need to redirect resources and restructure wealth.
We can do this by:
- Removing subsidies for businesses that harm the environment
- Introducing tax policies to discourage excessive spending/consumption
- Promoting and encouraging circular economies.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measures everything except what matters. We need an environment where everyone has freedom, control and a voice to live a life they value. It’s a fundamental right.
Professor Sharon Friel highlighted that reducing inequities is crucial for shifting away from the current consumption-driven system and fostering planetary health equity.
We need to address inequities by redefining the priorities of the state, civil society, and the market and recognising our own role and agency in this. We need ambitious public policies that optimise climate, social and health outcomes.
The key levers are:
- Courageous policy and regulation
- Taxation
- Competition
- Anti-trust policy
- Social and labour policy.
Whether it’s at the level of shifting power imbalances or getting in the room or holding the line – we can all play a role in creating this change.
“There is no silver bullet. We must embrace the complexity of this,” said Friel.
Read more from us about what can be done to protect the wellbeing of our community.
Mobilising health agendas in economic policy spaces
Dr Benn McGrady broke down his insights into two parts:
- Ensuring economic policies do no harm to health
- Promoting health through co-benefits.
An example of the first approach is through the World Health Organization’s push to get businesses to exclude tobacco companies from their partnerships to support Sustainable Development Goals.
While there have been significant wins in this area, McGrady points out these approaches are often defensive and focus on holding the line and preventing harm, rather than changing the system.
This brings us to the ‘co-benefits’ approach, which reframes the conversation to highlight the synergies between health goals and other sectors like economics, environment, and development. This approach lays a stronger foundation for lasting systems change.
One example of this is WHO’s advocacy for health taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary beverages to improve public health and generate revenue for governments.
Dr Bronwyn King AO, former oncologist turned public health advocate, founded Tobacco Free Portfolios to remove tobacco investments from financial institutions. Her efforts led to the global Tobacco Free Finance Pledge, now signed by 200+ financial institutions controlling $25 trillion AUD in assets.
Key insights and advice from Dr Bronwyn King AO:
- Learn the language: Knowing how to speak in finance terms made it easier for Bronwyn to communicate effectively
- Simple messaging: It often takes hearing something multiple times for it to truly sink in. So, keep it simple and repeat it
- Avoid ‘divisive’ terms: The word “divestment” often has negative connotations and can alienate the people you are trying to influence. Instead, she recommended focusing on exclusionary frameworks and rethinking investment strategies without using divisive terminology. Rather than “naming and shaming”, Dr King talked about the power of “naming and faming”.
Dr Michelle Maloney, an environmental lawyer with over 35 years of experience in grassroots activism, shared her perspective on working within the existing systems of power and economics.
Throughout her career, Maloney has focused on helping local communities protect their land and ecosystems, especially in the face of destructive corporate practices like those from large development companies.
While many organisations take an institutional approach, Maloney works directly with communities, emphasising the importance of protecting local environments and addressing immediate social challenges.
She critiques the neoliberal economic framework, arguing that market-based strategies have failed to address the root causes of environmental and societal crises. Instead, Michelle advocates for radical change, urging a shift in focus from economic growth to human and environmental wellbeing. She stresses the importance of rethinking priorities to create lasting, positive change.
Dr Maloney’s message is one of hope and resilience, but also of urgency in rethinking the systems that govern our lives. While playing the game within the current economic framework is necessary at times, she urges us to open the conversation to a new narrative that places human wellbeing, compassion, and the environment at the centre.
“Life comes first, not the economy,” said Maloney.
Commercial determinants and strengthening governance for health
Professor Kelley Lee begins by stating that businesses are connected to politics – you cannot have one without the other.
“If we look at businesses as intertwined with politics, and politics as necessary to action change, we can start to address the Commercial Determinants of Health,” said Lee.
To create a shift in how we think about politics and businesses, we need to start by questioning how they currently operate. Why and how do the commercial determinants of health fall disproportionality and unequally on certain communities? Are our institutions helping to create or hinder the pathways towards healthier economies?
She goes on to say that humans have reinvented their operating principles many times – it is possible to change the systems and become “for the people”. It starts with understanding how politics and economics are connected and engaging and it continues with being brave enough to turn ideas into action.
Dr Jenn Lacy-Nichols argues that power, not products (like alcohol, tobacco or fast food), should be our core concern.
“Sixty-nine of the richest 100 entities on the planet are corporations, not governments,” according to Global Justice Now.
Lacy-Nichols critiques the lack of transparency in the current system, pointing to examples such as billionaires, who progress their own agendas under the guise of promoting health.
She points out that public health should be about equity, but the most powerful corporations in the world continue to undermine this principle. Her work highlights the need to reassess who holds power in the health sector and to prioritise public wellbeing over corporate profits.
Dr Beau Cubillo emphasised that health is a collective concept deeply rooted in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. He explained that decolonisation is not an end goal but rather a continuous pathway towards achieving a more equitable society.
While it’s important to acknowledge the challenges, Cubillo stressed that it’s more productive to focus on what can be built and empowered in the present.
He also noted the importance of going beyond economic development of Indigenous communities and enabling Aboriginal control, community capacity building and knowledge sharing. He encouraged fostering small, positive changes now by highlighting the positive local Indigenous enterprises emerging across the country.
Cubillo firmly believes that solutions are already out there, and through collective effort, these solutions can drive meaningful transformation towards a healthier and more just future.
Takeaways
These thoughtful discussions highlight the urgent need for change within both business and public health systems.
To achieve a more equitable future, we must address the power imbalances that currently dictate outcomes and be willing to reimagine the economic and political frameworks that shape our society.
While these challenges may seem daunting, the future of public health requires our optimism. By fostering hope, empowering small changes, and supporting innovative practices, we can build a future where health and wellbeing are prioritised for all.
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See Croakey’s archive of articles on commercial determinants of health
