Co-Op Coffee Shop

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:31): I rise today to speak on a positive note about the Co-Op Coffee Shop that is about to open on Currie Street. The Co-Op Coffee Shop was an idea constructed by a group of people interested in a new paradigm about how workplaces operate. What has been created is a workers cooperative. These people are committed to running the cooperative democratically, being an inclusive space serving the community and serving ethical vegetarian food and drinks. Everyone who works at the cafe is a worker-owner, meaning that they work in and are also owners of the cafe. There are nine partners in this not-for-profit venture and the cafe will focus on organic and vegetarian food made from local produce.

What is truly remarkable about the business model the Co-Op Coffee Shop will be adopting is that they will share decision-making, authority, profits and liability subjects. The business will be democratically and equitably run to benefit all members and not be hierarchical. The members will use consensus to come to their decisions.

In this business there is no boss and there is no profit motive, which might be anathema to some in this chamber. It is a different way of doing things; indeed, it is a successful way of doing things. Everyone will be paid the same amount for their work and they are all offered the same hours of work. The workers are paid for the hours they work and any profits that come from the business are reinvested into the coffee shop or, indeed, as a pay rise for all members. All workers will share the responsibility of running the cafe and it will be totally worker owned and controlled.

The reason I am mentioning the Co-Op Coffee Shop today is that I want to highlight this business model. Running a co-op business in Adelaide, and especially in the CBD, is actually quite a rarity, and registering the business has been a challenge. However, this business model is great at achieving a fair and democratic workplace and it is very empowering for workers.

The model works on the assumption that workers value a more humanised workplace where all input can improve the business. That might be a rarity in Adelaide, but they are a well-established business type around the world. In fact, according to the International Cooperative Alliance, co-ops provide 100 million jobs worldwide—that is 20 per cent more than multinational enterprises. If one were to combine the economic activity of the 300 largest cooperatives in the world, that economic activity would equate to the tenth largest national economy. Thus you can see that cooperatives are providing an excellent opportunity here for Adelaide workers and businesses.

The Co-Op Coffee Shop is aiming to set a precedent so that future co-ops will be easier to set up in Adelaide and, indeed, South Australia. I encourage members to take a look at this exciting new enterprise. For those who believe in supporting both living wages for people and worker empowerment, it is certainly something that we should be looking to support in this place. I wish this excellent initiative in Adelaide all the best for next month's opening.