Australia — Craig Emerson MP, Minister for Small Business, announced changes to the Code. Franchisors are required to provide slightly more disclosure. With less than 4 weeks to prepare, many franchisors will not be able to comply . 

The amendments will require franchisors to give six months notice if they are not going to renew a franchise agreement.  Press Release

The ‘new’ Franchising Code of Conduct is yet to be published though Amendment Regulations are available online.  Amendment Regulations

MP Tony Piccolo has stated that South Australian franchise regulation will be introduced by the end of the year after federal changes ‘failed to deliver significant reform’.

Four of the provinces in Canada have legislation, the rest do not. There is no evidence those four providences have any less successful franchising systems than the others. In fact, the opposite is the case. Financial Review

The proposed South Australian Franchise Bill mandates improved conflict resolution processes compared to the limp Franchising Code of Conduct amendments .  An explicit ‘good faith’ requirement for all parties and meaningful penalties for breaches of the Franchising Code of Conduct are also included.

Draft SA Franchise Bill

The Franchise Council of Australia has surprisingly voiced opposition to the SA Franchising Bill.