This week MLA Peter Abetz is to introduce a state franchise Bill designed to improve protection for franchisees in Western Australia.This initiative follows on from the proposed South Australian franchising Law and many years of reported abuses of franchisees across many brands in Western Australia.  Who could forget Lenards?

`The Bill I'm trying to bring is basically exactly the same [as South Australia], but we don't have a small business commissioner.' Mr Abetz said, highlighting recommendations resulting from a raft of Federal and State government inquiries into franchising, including WA's Botham enquiry in 2008, that are yet to be implemented. Perth Now

Western Australia was the first State in recent times to hold a franchising inquiry and received submissions and made recommendations similar to South Australia and the Federal Inquiry.  They all called for federal intervention that never came.

Surprisingly the FCA has not embraced this new franchising trend.

But Franchise Council of Australia executive director Steve Wright said the franchising sector needed policies to stimulate investment and promote growth, not ones that saddled it with more regulation, such as in the legislation proposed for South Australia.

It won’t be long before Queensland has franchising firmly on its public agenda.  Now Australian franchisees might expect the federal Minister to get up to speed very quickly.

And we would hope to see some s93 action as well.

The franchisor was price-gouging us, forcing us to buy products far in excess of market rates and of dubious quality.

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Related Reading:

• Mr Peter Abetz Speech on WA Franchising Bill 2010
• WA Franchising Bill 2010
• Bipartisan Support Calls for Speedy Introduction
• Australian Franchise Law, the Nick of Time
• South Aus Proceeds with Franchise Laws
• South Australia Determined and Optimistic
• Federal Government Warned
• Give Franchisees More Protections
• MP To Introduce South Australia State Franchise Law
• Piccolo Fights to Reform Franchising
• Unanimous Parliamentary Support for State Legislation
• Australian Politicians Continue to Raise the Franchising Issue
• Franchising back on agenda in Australian Parliament
• Queensland Considers Federal Franchising Action
• Franchise Scandal Expose in Australia
• ACCC & FCA Agree to Agree