23 August 2019

Taskforce seeks feedback on fairness in franchising

Note

Joint media release with
Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business
Senator for Western Australia

The Morrison Government welcomes the release of the Issues Paper by the Franchising Taskforce.

Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, the Hon Michaelia Cash, said the issues paper gives stakeholders the opportunity to provide feedback to the Franchising Taskforce, which is preparing the Government’s response to the Fairness in Franchising report.

“The Franchising Taskforce is carefully considering changes to the regulation of franchising to make it fair and effective for both franchisors and franchisees, while avoiding unnecessary regulatory burden,” Minister Cash said.

“Consulting widely with key stakeholders is a critical part of this process. We want to make the sector fair for both the 80,000 franchisees and the 470,000 Australians who work for them.”

Assistant Treasurer, the Hon Michael Sukkar MP, said he has listened to stakeholder concerns, after chairing the Parliamentary Joint Committee Inquiry into Franchising in 2018.

“While the majority of franchise relations are positive and generate mutual benefit for franchisors and franchisees, the Parliamentary committee heard evidence of franchising relationships which were neither," Minister Sukkar said.

“The Parliamentary committee report made 71 recommendations to address concerns in the franchising sector and the Franchising Taskforce is consulting with the sector to inform the government’s response.

"A healthy franchising model should generate value for both franchisors and franchisees.”

The Issues Paper is available on the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business website.

Stakeholders who would like to discuss the issues paper can contact franchising@employment.gov.au or call 1 800 314 677.