The Franchise Council of Australia has reiterated its opposition to state level franchise regulation which it believes will be introduced through the back-door if the South Australian Government enacts the Small Business Commissioner Bill 2011 being pushed by Small Business Minister Tom Koutsantonis.

The sector's lobbying organisation has made clear its objection to the undeclared franchising-related elements of the Bill and noted that 57 public submissions to the Bill have never been made publicly available.   

FCA executive director Steve Wright said “Yet Mr Koutsantonis says today that the sector wants this legislation. The Commonwealth and other States have considered and rejected the franchising-related moves Mr Koutsantonis intends to implement. The Bill in its current form is disconcerting news for the $9 billion South Australian franchise sector and the thousands of franchisees and employees who work in it."

Wright held up the Small Business Commissioner Office model seen in Victoria, NSW and WA, focused on speedy and accessible dispute resolution, as a more appropriate solution to small business issues.