THE battle to get a contentious piece of legislation through state parliament has escalated after the man behind the Hungry Jack’s franchise took the fight into cyberspace.
Jack Cowin, of Competitive Foods, and Jim Penman, of Jim’s Group, are backing a new website set up to support proposed franchise law reforms.
The website FairGoLegislation.org outlines the Western Australian legislation introduced to parliament by Peter Abetz as a private member’s bill.
Proponents say the bill aims to protect small franchisees.
The Franchise Council of Australia is questioning the need to introduce state-based franchising legislation, which it says would only duplicate existing national regulation.
“There is simply no need for this legislation,” FCA executive director Steve Wright says, adding that the issue has been canvassed by five inquiries since 2007.
“The need for a site such as this has been brought about by the intransigent and bullying campaigning of the (FCA) towards any meaningful recognition of the problems faced by many franchisees,” the FairGoLegislation.org says.