Australian National Co-operatives
National co-operatives are a relatively new phenomenon in Australia. Until the 1990's,
co-operatives generally operated within state borders.
In 1986, a South Australian government working
party on agricultural co-operatives recommended to the Australian Agricultural
Council that consideration be given to establishing uniform co-operatives
legislation throughout
Australia after identifying that legislative inconsistencies between the
states created barriers to the development of internationally competitive
national agricultural co-operatives.
Most Australian co-operatives legislation at the time did not provide for the
recognition of interstate co-operatives or the merger of
co-operatives across state borders. Co-operatives were also subject to federal
companies legislation when recruiting members interstate. The
prospectus provisions of the legislation were considered inappropriate and
prohibitively
expensive for co-operatives.
In 1996, state, territory and the Commonwealth governments agreed to adopt a
national scheme for co-operative legislation to overcome the barriers identified
in the 1986 report.
The Core Consistent Provisions Scheme is based on the
Victorian Co-operatives Act
and provides a mechanism for a co-operative in one state to recruit members and
carry
on business in another state without being subject to companies legislation.
All states and territories have adopted the scheme, enabling
the expansion of co-operatives nationally.
For the purposes of this directory, a national co-operative has members in at
least three Australian states and territories. The state of incorporation of
the co-operative is denoted within the brackets.
Genetics Australia Co-operative Ltd
(Vic)
Australian Travel Agents Co-operative Ltd
(Vic)
Camping World Australia Co-operative Ltd
(NSW)
Independent Toy Specialists of Australia Co-operative Ltd
(NSW)
Plumbers Supplies Co-operative Ltd
(NSW)
Rapid Group Co-operative Ltd
(NSW)
Tertiary Access Group Co-operative Ltd
(NSW)
Welcome Motor Inns Co-operative Ltd
(NSW)
The Australian Wine Consumers Co-operative Society Ltd
(NSW)
University Co-operative Bookshop Ltd
(NSW)
Australian Valuers Institute Co-operative Ltd
(NSW)
RPH Australia Co-operative Ltd
(NSW)
Muslim Community Co-operative (Australia) Ltd
(Vic)
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