SA Government hits out at opposition parties over amendments to Small Business Commissioner bill

Members of the South Australian Government have hit out against the state Opposition over proposed amendments to the Small Business Commissioner’s bill, which would restrict any changes to industry code without legislative approval.

The comments come just a few days after the proposals were originally put forward by independent members, along with the Liberal and Family First parties. The Franchise Council of Australia yesterday said it supported those amendments.

MP Tony Piccolo, who has pushed for changes to franchising legislation for several years and backs the current bill, says that after having read the amendments, he believes the FCA is being “disgraceful”.

While he praised both independents and minor parties for playing “a constructive role”, he told SmartCompany this morning the Liberals are “playing a destructive game and are trying to derail the Bill.”

“Their amendments would gut the bill and deliver a victory to the top end of town which the FCA want, but kick the small mum and dad business owner and farmer in the guts.”

The amendments put forward would stop any code of conduct being changed by the commissioner unless it was subject to Parliamentary approval.

This is in response to concerns voiced by the franchising industry that the legislation was actually a stealthy way of allowing the commissioner to change the industry code, rather than being forced to pass dedicated legislation.

Piccolo accuses the Liberals of not taking part in any meaningful dialogue, adding the party’s behaviour “has been as disgraceful as the FCA”.

“It is no accident that all key small business and farming groups support the bill. The Liberals have allowed themselves to become a franchise of the FCA and have abandoned the mum and dad business owner.”

The Liberal party has argued that because the legislation deals with two separate issues – the franchising code and establishing a small business commissioner – there must be two different bills.

Opposition small business spokesman Steven Griffiths, along with small business minister Tom Koutsantonis, were both contacted this morning, but unavailable prior to publication.