National co-operatives are a 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.

AGRICULTURE

Genetics Australia Co-operative Ltd (Vic)

BUSINESS SERVICES

Australian Travel Agents Co-operative Ltd (Vic)
Camping World Australia Co-operative Ltd (ACT)
Community Co-operative Travel Ltd (WA)
Co-operative Purchasing Services Ltd (Vic)
Plumbers Supplies Co-operative Ltd (NSW)
Rapid Group Co-operative Ltd (NSW)
Welcome Motor Inns Co-operative Ltd (NSW)

CONSUMER BUYING GROUPS

The Australian Wine Consumers Co-operative Society Ltd (NSW)
University Co-operative Bookshop Ltd (NSW)

INTEREST GROUPS

Australian Valuers Institute Co-operative Ltd (NSW)
RPH Australia Co-operative Ltd (NSW)

SOCIAL ENTERPRISES

Muslim Community Co-operative (Australia) Ltd (Vic)