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

01 July 2026

Co-operatives and mutuals deliver resilience and growth in uncertain economic conditions

The resilience of Australia’s co-operative and mutual sector was in sharp focus during a recent interview with BCCM CEO Melina Morrison on Ausbiz’s The Pulse.
10 June 2026

Australian co‑operatives featured in ICA Asia and Pacific publication on women’s leadership

The BCCM has been featured in the latest edition of COOP Dialogue, a regional publication of the International Cooperative Alliance Asia and Pacific (ICA‑AP) focused on...
09 June 2026

Co‑operative housing gains national attention as practical response to housing affordability

Co‑operative housing is emerging as a credible, scalable response to Australia’s housing affordability challenge.