"The urge of all living systems to survive and grow to their potential is fundamental. So, the first reaction to the demise of ACCORD and its pioneering work on co-operation that spanned social and economic boundaries is regret and sadness.But,adaptation, metamorphosis and evolution in the face of change are at the very heart of innovation and advances in knowledge and its practical application. So my hope is that ACCORD's legacy will lead onto new beginnings and fresh opportunities in the future, in forms as yet unimagined. Best wishes to all involved."
Narelle Kennedy, Chief Executive, Australian Business Foundation

"I was saddened to hear that ACCORD will not continue, particularly as I spent a number of years helping to establish and run it. Its closure is a major loss for the co-operative movement in Australia. Effective research and development has always accompanied successful co-operative movements. We need to better understand how the movement can develop and grow in Australia. That was the role ACCORD was playing."

"It is appropriate at this time to thank all concerned with ACCORD -the NSW Government, the University of Technology, Sydney and Charles Sturt University. These three organisations funded and supported it during its six years. I would also like to pay special tribute to the staff and board members of ACCORD. I think they were responsible for much important work being produced."

"The challenge now is to move forward, to build on the work of ACCORD and stay focused on supporting and developing the co-operative alterative in Australia. If we succeed in that, then ACCORD has been truly successful and will leave a lasting legacy for future Australians."
Garry Cronan, Communications Manager, International Co-operatives Alliance (ICA)

"It was with high hopes for a great revival of the co-operatives sector that we greeted the news of the establishment of ACCORD in 1999. We saw a huge potential for an organisation like ACCORD: to undertake strategic and action research; to assist co-ops to develop and grow; and to improve the image and visibility of the co-operative sector. In some areas, ACCORD set up the base on which to build, especially in the area of communications, through the newsletter and the website. Our hope is that some of the work ACCORD undertook will be continued by other organisations with an interest in co-operatives and the social economy."
Jayo Wickremarachchi, ACCORD Associate and former Senior Research Fellow

"ACCORD's research role in the sector has enabled it to reflect on key issues that were not immediately apparent to those working at the coalface. It will be a challenge to the sector to replicate this resource that will now be lost with the closure of this research centre."
Peter Gates and Alan Greig, The Mercury Centre Co-operative

"It is with great pain that we witness the passing of ACCORD and its newsletter, our favorite Australian publication. As the world becomes increasingly dominated by large organizations the importance of lateral communications between small and medium size enterprises increases. Collective action in any sector is difficult but the societal benefits are immense, yet unfortunately, seldom appreciated. I do hope that those of you who have invested so much of your energy, time, and talent into this important organization find equally as exciting opportunities. Godspeed."
Michael L. Cook, Robert D. Partridge Professor, University of Missouri, Department of Agricultural Economics

"Co-operatives have been an important part of Australian life for over 100 years. Along with mutuals and charities they constitute a social economy that contributes between 4 and 5% to GDP. They embody values that are a valuable corrective to the current emphasis on selfish individualism. At a time when governments overseas and in some other states are coming to recognise the importance of the social economy, and when they are coming to recognise the importance of policy development that is informed by research, it is extremely disappointing that the NSW government has chosen not to renew its grant to ACCORD, thus removing the only source of research based knowledge on co-operatives and the mutual part of the social economy."
Mark Lyons, Adjunct Professor, University of Technology Sydney and former Co-Director of ACCORD

With the closure of ACCORD, one of the challenges will be to continue relevant development and research in the NSW and related co-op and mutual sectors. Further research on ways to improve the operation of the co-op model for members, and its relevance to the development of a sustainable society are possibilities. In any case, ongoing communication among sector participants and other interested people will help facilitate this research.
Graham Monday, former Chief Development Officer, NSW Registry of Co-operatives

I saw a notice on australia.coop that ACCORD is ceasing to operate from June 30. I am sad to see it go as I only discovered the co-operative movement several months ago and am planning to do research into the WA scene. My query is whether the ACCORD site will remain available for the foreseeable future. It is a useful resource and it would be good to retain the contacts list even if it is not actively engaged in research.
Peter Hicks, Curtin University, Western Australia