Australians don’t sit back and wait for problems to solve themselves – we step up, we work together, and we get things done. Co‑operation is part of who we are. It’s mateship in action, self‑reliance at scale, and fairness in practice.
Whether it’s farmers protecting fair prices, workers building industry super funds, or communities ensuring access to affordable housing, co‑operatives have long been the quiet achievers of our economy – reshaping markets and putting fairness at the centre of economic life.
I’m excited to be here today at the Co‑op Assembly 2025 to talk about this important topic.
Here in the Naala Badu building, I acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet today. I pay my respects to their elders past and present, and I extend that respect to all First Nations people here today.
Like Australia’s co‑operatives, this gallery has become more diverse over time, not only expanding its collection of Indigenous art, but also building its collection of international art. My mother, Barbara Leigh, has an ongoing interest in textiles in Southeast Asia. She reminded me that a dedicated space for Asian art only opened in 1988, flourishing under Edmund Capon and Jacqueline Menzies, and expanding into this new building.
This evolution wasn’t accidental. It was built through collaboration – by people who believed in the value of cultural diversity, who pooled resources, and who created something greater than the sum of its parts. That same spirit of cooperation underpins the co‑operative movement. Just as this gallery has grown through collective effort, co‑operatives, too, show us what’s possible when people come together with a common purpose.
Thank you to the Co‑op Federation for inviting me to speak today at the Co‑op Assembly 2025, in celebration of the UN International Year of Co‑operatives. This year’s theme – ‘Co‑operatives Build a Better World’ – isn’t just an ideal. It’s a fact. Co‑operatives have demonstrated their potential to enhance economic fairness, resilience, and community empowerment – particularly in sectors such as agriculture, finance, and energy. Globally, co‑operatives have helped shape industries and foster economic inclusion, particularly in regions where traditional business models have failed to serve local communities.
For me, this is not just an abstract concept – it’s personal. During the Great Depression, my grandfather Keith Leigh and his friend Lindsay Brehaut saw families in their community struggling to afford basic goods. So, they founded the Hobson’s Bay Co‑op, giving locals the ability to pool their buying power and secure fair prices. It was a simple idea, but a profound one: that by working together, they could build a more secure, more just economic future. And that’s what the co‑operative movement has always been about – people banding together, not just to get by, but to take control of their futures.
And this isn’t just history. Co‑operatives are addressing today’s biggest challenges – from clean energy to economic inclusion. That’s why, today, I want to talk about how co‑operatives have shaped Australia and why they are more relevant than ever in our mission to build a better world.
A Different Way of Doing Business
The spirit of co‑operatives has a long tradition. For millennia, First Nations communities have engaged in collective decision‑making, shared stewardship of land, and sustainable resource management. Examples such as the Yolŋu system of governance and the Noongar land management traditions reflect principles central to the co‑operative movement.
The modern co‑operative movement was born in 19th‑century Britain, a time of immense industrial change. The Industrial Revolution created great wealth, but it also brought hardship – low wages, soaring food prices, and deep economic uncertainty. The economic system was expanding, but it wasn’t inclusive.
New ideas emerged to rebalance the scales. Robert Owen, a Welsh social reformer, envisioned ‘villages of cooperation’ – self‑sustaining communities built on shared ownership. His model didn’t take hold, but his ideas inspired others. John Stuart Mill saw co‑operatives as a vital counterbalance to concentrated capital ownership – offering workers a stake in the economy and greater economic security.
The Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers took these ideas and made them real. In 1844, 28 artisans and tradespeople – among them weavers, cobblers, and cabinetmakers – pooled their resources to open the world’s first modern co‑operative store in Northern England. They didn’t wait for change. They created it. Their principles – voluntary and open membership, democratic control, economic participation, education, cooperation among co‑operatives, and community concern – still define co‑operatives today.
When the co‑operative governance principles and practices arrived in Australia, they took on a distinctly local character, shaped by the challenges and opportunities of a new and developing nation. Early Australian settlers faced their own economic hardships – long distances, scarce resources, and markets dominated by powerful interests. The same principles that drove the Rochdale Pioneers helped early Australians build essential services, ensure food security, and strengthen communities.
One of the earliest and most defining examples came in 1881, when a group of dairy farmers in New South Wales found themselves struggling against unfair market conditions. They established the South Coast and West Camden Co‑operative Company, ensuring that dairy farmers – not external corporations – determined their own production, pricing, and distribution. It wasn’t just about securing better milk prices; it was about keeping wealth within local communities and proving that co‑operation could be a powerful force for economic self‑determination.
The model they created would later be replicated across Australian agriculture and the broader economy, proving that co‑operatives weren’t just about getting by – they were about building thriving industries and communities.
How Co‑operatives Have Shaped the Modern Australian Economy
At every major turning point in Australia’s economic history, co‑operatives have been there – empowering communities, and ensuring economic progress was shared. From the agricultural booms of the post‑war era to the financial shifts that shaped modern banking, and the rise of education as a cornerstone of the knowledge economy, co‑operatives have consistently stepped in to provide people‑powered solutions. They have not just responded to economic challenges; they have shaped the very structure of Australia’s modern economy.
From Farm to Global Market: The Power of Agricultural Co‑operatives
In the decades following World War II, Australia’s agricultural industry experienced massive expansion. Demand for Australian produce surged, and farmers found themselves at a crossroads – either remain vulnerable to market fluctuations and corporate interests or organise to secure their own futures.
Take Murray Goulburn, founded in 1950. At a time when dairy farmers were at the mercy of big processors, they banded together to form a co‑operative that ensured they controlled milk production and pricing. For decades, it became a leader in Australia’s dairy industry, proving that farmers could be more than just suppliers – they could be decision‑makers. Similarly, CBH Group, established in Western Australia, has allowed grain growers to take ownership of storage, transport, and exports, ensuring profits stay with the farmers.
These co‑operatives played a defining role in shaping Australia’s agricultural economy, ensuring that it remained not just competitive, but fair. They helped transform Australian agriculture into a global powerhouse while keeping decision‑making power in the hands of those who worked the land.
Keeping Regional Communities Strong: Banking on Co‑operation
As Australia urbanised in the latter half of the 20th century, the financial sector shifted its focus toward cities. Banks, driven by profit motives, began withdrawing from regional areas, leaving rural Australians without access to essential financial services. Co‑operatives once again stepped in, ensuring that communities weren’t left behind.
Bendigo and Adelaide Bank started as a co‑operative building society, offering home loans to Australians who had been overlooked by the major banks. As financial exclusion grew, it expanded its reach, reinvesting in regional economies, funding local businesses, and keeping money flowing within communities. Today, it stands as one of Australia’s most trusted financial institutions, demonstrating that finance can be both ethical and commercially viable.
A Legacy of Learning
As Australia transitioned toward a knowledge‑based economy, further education became an essential pathway to economic mobility. But access to education was not always equitable, particularly when it came to the cost of study materials. In 1958, a group of university students took matters into their own hands, forming The Co‑op Bookshop to make textbooks more affordable.
What started as a small initiative soon grew into Australia’s largest member‑owned retailer, ensuring that generations of students could access the resources they needed to succeed. Many of us were disappointed when the Co‑op Bookshop closed its doors in 2020, falling victim to the forces that have shuttered countless other bookstores. But in its heyday, it was Australia’s second‑largest bookseller, a particular boon to struggling students. And while we’re on the topic of equity in education, a shout‑out to the NSW Teacher’s Federation, who are hosting this conference tomorrow.
Solving Today’s Global Challenges
Co‑operatives continue to play a critical role in tackling some of the biggest economic challenges today.
Hepburn Wind, Australia’s first community‑owned wind farm, generates clean energy while keeping profits within the local economy. Yackandandah Community Energy Co‑op is working to make the Victorian town of Yackandandah 100 per cent renewable, proving that local communities can take climate action into their own hands.
Co‑operatives are also creating jobs and driving financial inclusion. Redgum Cleaning Co‑op, a worker‑owned co‑operative, provides secure employment in Melbourne, proving that ethical business models can empower all types of workers. Earthworker Energy Co‑op, based in Victoria, is manufacturing renewable energy products while providing some stable, well‑paid jobs for workers in transition from fossil‑fuel industries.
Affordable housing remains one of Australia’s greatest economic challenges, and housing co‑operatives are stepping in where the market has failed. Common Equity NSW provides an alternative housing model, supporting affordability and stability for low‑income Australians.
Across Australia, co‑operatives continue to be a powerful engine for social and economic progress, responding to new economic challenges with the age old principles developed almost 2 centuries old.
Conclusion
If history tells us anything, it’s that when Australians pull together, we achieve great things. Co‑operatives aren’t just a legacy of the past – they’re a model for the future. A future where success is shared, where communities shape their own destinies, and where fairness isn’t just a principle, but a practice.
The UN International Year of Co‑operatives is a reminder that we have choices about the kind of economy we build. We can create one that delivers opportunity for all. Across Australia and around the world, co‑operatives are already making this vision a reality.
So, let’s take inspiration from those who came before us. Let’s support the growth of co‑operatives, widen their reach, and ensure they remain part of our national and global story for generations to come.
When we co‑operate, we don’t just build better businesses – we create stronger communities, widen opportunities, and ensure fairness remains at the heart of our economy. A thriving co‑operative sector isn’t just an economic choice; it’s a vision for a more just and sustainable future.