The West Australian Franchising Bill originally tabled by Liberal Peter Abetz and recently rejected by one Liberal vote has now taken new shape and been re-introduced to Parliament by Labor member Ljiljanna Ravlich.

There is one extra part that requires the small business commissioner to give annual reports on the state of the franchising sector. That is the only part that I could see that was different.  Peter Abetz

Ravlich is said to fully understand the lot of franchisees with ongoing concerns for ‘badly abused’ franchisee constituents. She is acknowledged as a no-nonsense and energetic member drawn to the plight of the underprivileged in the community and a hands on approach to small  business concerns.

Ravlich is currently Shadow Minister for Commerce and Small Business, Mental Health, and Training. In the last WA Labor government she was Minister for Local Government; Regional Development; Heritage; the Kimberley, Pilbara and Gascoyne, and Goldfields and Esperance.

In opposing the WA Bill the Franchise Council of Australia employed a campaign of constant misinformation and personal attacks that caused resentment across all political parties and states. Will they try it again?