Three Western Australian co-operatives have taken three of the top four spots in the latest list of Australia's largest community-focused groups, with the groups collectively reporting a combined annual turnover of over $4 billion.
In the top 100 list of national co-operatives, credit unions and mutuals by annual turnover, Victorian group Murray Goulburn was ranked as the largest organisation in the country with a turnover of $2.6 billion.
Coming a close second was WA group Co-op Bulk Handling with an annual turnover of $2.5 billion, then HBF with $943.3 million and Capricorn Society with $761 million.
The list, based on 2008 data, is compiled by Co-operatives Australia.
Overall, WA had 15 groups within the top 100 including Geraldton's Fishermen's Co-op (ranked 14) with $192 million, Ravensdown United Farmers Co-operative (19) with $120 million and Western Australian Meat Marketing Co-op (26) with $89 million.
The top 100 control a combined annual turnover of around $20 billion.
The release of the list coincides with new legislation that will come into effect by the end of the year that will make it easier for eastern states co-operatives to do business in WA and for local co-operatives to grow their activity base.
"The important contribution made to the WA economy by businesses that operate under a co-operative business model is often overlooked," Co-operatives WA chairman Chris Enright said.
"The national list will increase public awareness of a sector that has traditionally focused on getting on with its day-to-day business and one that has not been pre-occupied with chasing media coverage outside its own membership base."
