CO-OPS by STATE

The co-operative sector in Western Australia consisted of 61 co-operatives (excluding financial mutuals) in 2009, comprising 3.5% of the total number of co-operatives in Australia. ¹

Co-operatives first emerged in Western Australia in the late 1880's following a Royal Commission into that state's rural industry. At the start of the 20th century, the Western Australian Government enacted the Co-operative and Provident Societies Act 1903, however, the act was deemed not suitable for rural based co-operatives and most elected to be registered under the state's companies law. A small number of mainly urban retail co-operatives were formed under the 1903 act prior to World War 1. In 1943, the Companies (Co-operative) Act was enacted to cater for all co-operatives, however a number of co-operatives remained under the 1903 law. ²

In 1998, the Western Australian Parliament's Standing Committee on Uniform Legislation and Intergovernmental Agreements recommended the government sign the national Co-operatives Laws Agreement, however, the WA co-operative sector was reluctant to be part of a national scheme and did not encourage the government to implement the agreement in the state.

Following pressure from the other states, the government finally acted in 2006 with the release of draft legislation for public consultation. This resulted in the Co-operatives Act 2009, replacing the earlier acts, thereby bringing the state's co-operatives law in line with those of other states and territories.

Today, Western Australian co-operatives are involved in a range of economic and social activities. The majority are distributing co-operatives in the agricultural, fishing, forestry, retail, transport, water and wholesale trade industries, with the balance being non distributing co-operatives in the education, training and interest group industries.

The following are links to Western Australian co-operatives with websites. Some co-operatives are listed more than once due to their activities covering more than one industry.

LINKS INDEX

  Agriculture and Fishing
  Education and Training
  Electricity and Water
  Interest Groups
  Retail Trade
  Transport
  Wholesale Trade

AGRICULTURE AND FISHING

Agricultural Support Services

United Crate Co-operative Ltd

Commodity Marketing

Agricultural Products and Seafood Wholesaling

Food Processing

Food Product Manufacturing

Inputs Supplies

Hardware, Building and Rural Supplies

Fishing Support Services

Broome Boatlifters and Marine Services Co-operative Ltd
Geraldton Fishermen's Co-operative Ltd

EDUCATION and TRAINING

Engineering and Manufacturing Industry Co-operative Ltd

ELECTRICITY and WATER

Water Supply and Distribution

Gascoyne Water Co-operative Ltd
Ord Irrigation Co-operative Ltd
South West Irrigation Asset Co-operative Ltd
South West Irrigation Management Co-operative Ltd

INTEREST GROUPS

Albany Gateway Co-operative Ltd
Co-operative Federation of Western Australia Ltd

RETAIL TRADE

Fuel Retailing

Mount Barker Co-operative Ltd

Hardware, Building and Rural Supplies

BKW Co-operative Ltd
Geraldton Organised Primary Producers Co-operative Ltd
Mount Barker Co-operative Ltd
Nungarin Farmers Co-operative Company Ltd
Ord River District Co-operative Ltd
Quairading Farmers Co-operative Ltd
York & Districts Co-operative Ltd

Supermarket and Grocery Stores

BKW Co-operative Ltd
Cocos Islands Co-operative Society Ltd
Mount Barker Co-operative Ltd
Quairading Farmers Co-operative Ltd
York & Districts Co-operative Ltd

TRANSPORT

Road Passenger Transport

Cocos Islands Co-operative Society Ltd
Swan Taxis Co-operative Ltd

WHOLESALE TRADE

Agricultural Products Wholesaling

Co-operative Bulk Handling Ltd
Indigenous Harvest Australia Co-operative Ltd
Organic & Biodynamic Meats Western Australia Co-operative Ltd
Sweeter Banana Co-operative Ltd
Western Australian Meat Marketing Co-operative Ltd

Grocery and Liquor Wholesaling

Liquor Barons Co-operative Ltd

Seafood Wholesaling

Geraldton Fishermen's Co-operative Ltd

Other Goods Wholesaling