ABSTRACT
This chapter explores recent developments in Australian co-operative history since 2009. The Global Financial Crisis and the United Nations International Year of Co-operatives heightened awareness of co-operatives as an alternative to other business models with their community and democratic focus. While the numbers of financial co-operatives continue to decline due to amalgamations, despite challenges such as COVID-19, there have been slight improvements in the number of platforms, energy, consumer, social and worker co-operatives. The Federal government’s Farming Together Program led to a reversal of the decline in agricultural co-operatives in 2016–2018. The formation of the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals in 2013 has provided a national platform for Australian co-operatives to lobby for legislative reform in areas such as capital raising and increase public awareness of co-operatives. The adoption of Co-operatives National Law has overcome legal disadvantages for co-operatives when competing with companies. While several state co-operative federations have not survived, Co-operatives WA continues to play a major role in Western Australia and the New South Wales federation has expanded its membership interstate.
