As Australia’s election looms the Federal Opposition leader has promised small business changes denied by the Rudd/Gillard government.

Mr Abbott proposes;

• Small Business to gain a Cabinet position
• A small business one-stop Ombudsman
• New Unfair Contract Law changes to include to business-to-business contracts under $2M

Small businesses are often wedged between rules for individuals and rules for businesses because effectively they are so often individuals in business.  Tony Abbott MP

Australian small business, particularly franchisees, have been increasingly vocal in calling for these changes.  The role of a Federal Ombudsman and the inclusion of franchise contracts in Unfair Contract legislation have been subjects within recent federal inquiries and while initially recommended they were ultimately denied by the Small Business Minister Emerson after prompting by franchisor lobbyists.

It would be very detrimental to franchising if a franchisee was at liberty to contest his agreement because some items were non-negotiable.  Franchise Council of Australia