Fleurieu Poultry Association bring further co-operation to South Australia

08 December 2014

Ingham Enterprises is planning to close the plant on 16 December, leaving 79 workers without a job and affecting seven local producers who supply the plant.

Workers and producers have formed the Fleurieu Poultry Association in an effort to try and save the plant, in what will become a ‘community co-operative’ similar to the one set up in Girgarre, Victoria, in response to the closure of the Heinz plant.

This project is yet another example of social enterprise that is concerned with improving the long term economic circumstances of those involved, along with that of the local economy, through co-operative ownership. As detailed by Senator Barry O’Sullivan recently the co-operative model is ideal for the agricultural sector, providing security and stability in a sometimes unstable market. Federal Minister for Agriculture Barnaby Joyce MP has also been advocating the benefits of farmers forming co-operatives to negotiate for sustainable farmgate profits, a move that has been welcomed by farmers.

The setting up of this project can be seen as further evidence that the co-operative model is  able to respond to the needs of workers and consumers, and the BCCM will follow the development of the co-operative with interest.