The Roundtable: Are co-ops the answer for regional communities?

28 September 2020

Historically there have been spikes in interest in cooperatives during crises, when communities fall back on community-spirited activity and common purpose to try to resolve the issues.

The Business Council of Co-operatives says there has been a spike in community buyouts of all manner of community services – shops, hotels, agriculture, renewable energy – and a surge in interest in areas where business models have broken down.

Could co-operatives be used more widely to help local and regional economies?

Guests:
Melina Morrison – CEO, Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals
June Tarlinton – Chair, Cobargo Community Co-operative in southern NSW
Scott Thompson – Chair, Broomehill Village Co-operative in southern WA
Greg Patmore – Emeritus Professor of Business and Labour History at the University of Sydney Business School.

Listen to the episode

Radio National’s Sunday Extra
27 September 2020

Latest news

11 July 2024

Co-ops ease cost of living in regional areas

Listen to today's interview about the benefits of co-ops and how co-ops are keeping key businesses alive in regional areas.
10 July 2024

This alternative to supermarkets can help you save on groceries, but most people don't know it exists

Families are making significant savings by forming small shopping co-ops but cooperative business structures account for less than 1 per cent of the supermarket sector in...
08 July 2024

The big idea to take away from the UK election

BCCM CEO Melina Morrison discussed what the government can do to level the playing field for co-ops and mutuals in the UK and Australia with ausbiz.