Historic Labor platform commitment backs doubling of co-operative and mutual sector

23 July 2026

• Labor platform recognises co-operatives, mutuals, credit unions and customer-owned banks
• commitment supports the sector’s ambition to double in size
• new policy recognition strengthens the case for practical reform

The Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM) has welcomed the Australian Labor Party’s historic platform commitment to support the co-operative and mutual sector’s ambition to double in size, as a major advocacy milestone for both the BCCM and the sector. The commitment reflects years of sustained advocacy for greater recognition of business model diversity in national economic policy, and supports efforts to address barriers to growth and create a more level playing field with other corporate structures.

The new platform wording states:

Growing the Co-operative and Mutual Sector

Labor will support diverse business models which bring innovation, new products, competition and quality jobs to the market. These will include co-operatives, mutuals, credit unions and customer-owned banks. We recognise and support the cooperative and mutual sector’s ambition to double in size and will work to address barriers it faces to ensure an equal playing field with other corporate structures.

The commitment is a significant policy milestone for Australia’s co-operative and mutual sector. It recognises the contribution of member-owned businesses to competition, quality jobs, innovation and economic participation, and gives policymakers a stronger foundation for reform.

BCCM CEO Melina Morrison said the focus would now be on working with government and policymakers to help co-operatives and mutuals reach their potential across key parts of the Australian economy.

“Even modest reform from the Federal Government could unleash potential across industries such as agriculture, finance and care,” Ms Morrison said.

“There is now a significant opportunity to strengthen the role of co-operatives and mutuals in our economy. A legislative environment for co-operatives and mutuals to prosper and grow allows them to work harder in the interests of their members, markets and communities around the nation.”

Australia has 1,810 co-operatives and mutuals, with combined turnover of more than $55 billion, more than 37 million active memberships and direct employment of around 95,000 people. The sector also supports nearly 367,000 small business members, showing that co-operatives and mutuals are an established part of Australia’s economic infrastructure.

Targeted policy reform has already shown what is possible. Mutual capital instrument reforms have helped unlock nearly $700 million in new capital, demonstrating how practical changes to policy settings can release latent investment and growth potential in member-owned businesses.

The Australian commitment comes amid growing international momentum. In the United Kingdom, Andy Burnham has made history becoming the UK’s first Labour and Co-operative Prime Minister, while the UK Labour Government has committed to doubling the size of its co-operative and mutual economy, which is worth nearly £180 billion and employs 1.5 million people.

Andrew Pakes MP, the UK Government Envoy for Co-operatives and Mutuals, said:

“It’s great to see the ALP matching the British Government’s ambition to double the size of the co-operative economy.

In today’s fractious world, people want a stake in the goods and services that shape their communities and lives. Co-operatives offer an antidote to global capital and populism through a long-term approach that is owned by workers and members and focused on keeping profits within local communities.”

The commitment comes as Andrew Pakes MP joins the BCCM at LaborEngaged’26, the Fringe Program of the Australian Labor Party’s 50th National Conference in Adelaide. The panel on Friday, 24 July, What Australia can learn from the UK’s agenda to double the co-operative and mutual economy, will feature Andrew Pakes MP, UK Government Envoy for Co-operatives and Mutuals; Melina Morrison, CEO of the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals; Michael Pilbrow, Delegate for Riverina; and Linda Scott, Delegate for Sydney.

The BCCM will continue working with government, policymakers and sector partners to turn this important policy recognition into changes that help co-operatives and mutuals form, grow and compete.

Find out more:

• ABC The Business: How co-operatives figure in the new UK PM’s plans to improve living standards
• Sydney Morning Herald: The movement behind Andy Burnham has a message for Labor in Australia
• Daily Mail: UK Labour to listen and learn from Albanese’s success
• ABC Afternoon Briefing: Andrew Pakes interview