Bruce Billson, the former small business minister who is now chairman of the franchise lobby group, Franchise Council of Australia. Credit:Andrew Meares Looking at the profits franchisors extract from their franchisees and the control many of them wield, who could disagree? We know that worker exploitation isn't limited to the franchise sector, but enough big players have been caught out, which is why we need to start somewhere. But the sector decided to have none of that. Enter Bruce Billson, the former small business minister who became chairman of the franchise lobby group just before the last election. His role as chairman of the Franchise Council of Australia has been to tell anyone who will listen that the proposed laws are too draconian.

It was a smart move by the FCA. In one newspaper article Billson described the new laws as "a media-inspired regulatory misadventure to introduce unprecedented laws that fit up the franchisor for the Fair Work Act breaches of their franchisees where they have had no actual involvement". The article worked itself up into a fervour, arguing that the laws represent an "existential threat" to the successful franchise model of enterprise. The reality is convenience store giant 7-Eleven became embroiled in a systemic wage fraud scandal in August 2015. It shocked the nation. The business model was flawed and head office agreed to repay exploited workers. More franchisors should follow its lead. The Protecting Vulnerable Workers Bill was designed to do just that. It was introduced on March 1, with the legislation listed on March 20. A media-inspired regulatory misadventure to introduce unprecedented laws that fit up the franchisor for the Fair Work Act breaches of their franchisees... Bruce Billson, Chairman Franchise Council of Australia

But it disappeared from the program last week, with two other Fair Work Bills listed in its place as it is before a Senate Committee and is waiting for the committee to report back before a vote can be taken. Fairfax Media understands the government would like it dealt with prior to the winter recess. Fairfax Media's Adam Gartrell has written today that the FCA has directed its members, including 7-Eleven, Pizza Hut and Caltex to call and write to their politicians about the bill. He says Billson has been visiting, calling and texting MPs. The Turnbull Government says it is "firmly committed to this policy" and urges the ALP to support the legislation. If that's the case, they should get on with the job.