BCCM welcomes ALP Growth and Productivity Taskforce

02 May 2019

The Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM) welcomes the ALP’s commitment to a Growth and Productivity Taskforce announced today by Shadow Assistant Minister Andrew Leigh.

The proposed taskforce’s overarching responsibilities will be to examine the structure, distribution and effects of capital ownership in Australia. The taskforce which sits in Treasury, has an explicit remit to implement reforms to put co-operatives and mutuals on a level playing field with other business structures.

“Co-operatives are a flexible structure with the potential to not only create economic value, but also to foster community. There is also some evidence that employees in worker-owned firms are more productive and more satisfied, and that such firms have less turnover and enjoy greater staff loyalty. There are over 2000 co-operatives or mutuals in Australia, employing nearly 150,000 people. Four out of five Australians are members,” says Shadow Assistant Treasurer Andrew Leigh.

BCCM CEO Melina Morrison said, “The taskforce will be immediately tasked with implementing the remaining recommendations from the Senate Inquiry into Co-operatives and Mutuals, which primarily involves giving recognition to co-ops as a viable business model. This will ensure that states and territories as well as federal jurisdictions work together to ensure regulation of co-operatives is consistent and enabling.”

“Since the last general election our sector has enjoyed new and welcome bi-partisan political support at a federal level. Our sector has benefitted from the first new legislation in two decades, which is a great start in levelling the playing field for co-operatives and mutuals.

“These reforms build on the sector roadmap for reform, the Blueprint for an Enterprising Nation, which was first released by the BCCM in 2014.

“However, there is still much to be done to lower the barriers to growth and competition for member-owned firms. The taskforce proposal puts a long overdue policy focus on the importance of business diversity to a healthy and balanced economy.

“By creating strategies for business diversity with companies that take a longer-term view, government has the opportunity to help build an economy and society that works in the interest of the widest number of people,” Ms Morrison added.

Today’s announcement by Labor addresses the BCCM’s three-point plan outlined in its Federal Election Policy which calls for all political parties to recognise and support the value of diverse forms of enterprise in the Australian economy.

“Today, Labor has demonstrated that it understands that policy, legislative and regulatory actions can help co-ops and mutuals fulfil their potential and in turn deliver a wide range of public policy objectives. The BCCM and our members would welcome the opportunity to work with government to promote business plurality and lower barriers to growth and competition for co-ops and mutuals,” Ms Morrison added.

“Rediscovering this transparent, member-owned business model can provide Australia with a model and a road map in an era in which we are all demanding more accountability of our institutions”.

Read Shadow Assistant Treasurer Andrew Leigh’s Media Release.