Co-operatives

What is a co-operative?

A co-operative is a legal entity owned and controlled by the people for whom it was established and who benefit from using its services. A registered co-operative is a body corporate and in Western Australia, may be formed by a minimum of five individuals or corporations.

In forming a co-operative, members agree to use its services and to contribute capital to fund the enterprise, usually by purchasing shares. Funds are contributed not for capital gain but for service or trading benefits.

What can a co-operative do?

Co-operatives may be set up for a very wide range of social and economic activities, such as retailing, agriculture, manufacturing, child care, housing, marketing, arts and crafts and taxi services. For instance, people in a rural community may establish a co-operative supermarket to buy food in bulk so that its members have access to cheaper goods. As another example, a group of small agricultural producers may set up a co-operative in order to buy and share equipment.

How are co-operatives established?

Each Australian State and Territory legislates to give co-operatives a corporate identity distinct from companies or associations.

The Department of Commerce administers the two Western Australian laws specifically relevant to co-operatives:

the Companies (Co-operative) Act (1943) and the Co-operative and Provident Societies Act (1903). At present there are approximately 70 co-operatives registered under the former Act and one under the latter.

The Department's regulatory responsibilities in this area include:

processing applications for registration from prospective co-operatives
maintaining a Register of Co-operatives
reviewing annual reports and financial statements submitted by co-operatives
investigating any breaches of the legislation
providing legislative policy advice to the Government.

Register of Co-operatives

The Register of Co-operatives lists the names and registered office addresses of all co-operatives registered in Western Australia.

Other information for co-operatives

The following links provide further information for co-operatives registered under the Companies (Co-operative) Act: