Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Deputy Speaker. The small number of amendments to the franchising code which were accepted by the former government did not of course come into effect until 1 March 2008, almost two years after Graeme Matthews was commissioned by the former government. So one would not look to the former government, that is the government of which those opposite were members, to see any real track record in undertaking effective reform in this area. It was left to this government to pick up the pieces and embark on some serious reforms and try to legislate in an appropriate manner, which is what is now being engaged in.

The joint standing committee started its inquiry in June last year and it has conducted a number of hearings in Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne—and I see that we have the member for Oxley, the chair of the committee, here with us in the chamber. It conducted these hearings across Australia. It received 159 submissions and, if one looks at the list of submissions, they were from individuals, from academics, from franchisees, from franchisors, trade associations, lawyers and, indeed, from a member of this parliament. You, the member for Lyons, also made a submission to this report.

In June 2009 the government published an options paper and we can expect to see a government response soon. What is important to note about this, Deputy Speaker, is that this is an industry which is not one—and I have noted the thousands upon thousands of franchised businesses in this country—where one should jump straightaway to instant action, and I repeat, it is more than a little disingenuous for any of those opposite to be suggesting now that there should be instant change.

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