The fight for fairer franchisee representation is set to continue as South Australian State MP for Light Tony Piccolo is returned to his seat and vows to press on with his private members Bill.

The recent announcements about the Franchising Code of Conduct’s final changes did little to appease Piccolo’s appetite for providing the franchising industry with a fairer playing field, albeit through State legislation.

Once again the changes proposed by the Federal Minister do not go far enough. The Minister has to stop tinkering around the edges and introduce real, meaningul reform, said Piccolo.

However, Small Business Minister Dr Craig Emerson has indicated no further changes will be considered for at least three years.

Piccolo’s private members Bill, introduced on the last day of the previous parliament, focuses on effective conflict resolution process, for parties in a franchise agreement to act in good faith towards each other, and to introduce penalties for breaches of the code.

The Bill will be re-introduced after Piccolo has consulted with industry players in April.

The Franchise Council of Australia has already rejected the proposed Bill and the concept of introducing State legislation.

I make no apology for standing up for the mum and dad franchisees while the FCA protects the interests of the big end of town, said Piccolo.

This reform process is not about protecting people from the bad business decision’s they make but rather to create an environment where both franchisees and franchisors get a fair go.

While the objectives of the Bill are non negotiable the strategies and methods used to achieve the outcomes certainly are, Piccolo added. 

Anyone keen to comment on the proposed Bill should contact Tony Piccolo’s office.