Small Business Commissioners are the latest flavour in the parliamentary menu as the Federal Government announces it will appoint an advocate for small business interests.

This news comes after Western Australia and South Australia have recently appointed state-based small business commissions.

The federal announcement has gained support from the Franchise Council of Australia which does not support state-based business legislation.

Executive director Steve Wright said “The FCA is particularly pleased the National Small Business Commissioner (SBC) will focus on cutting red tape and eliminating state-national overlap. Hopefully, the dispute resolution element of the new National SBC office will help assure Labor in WA and SA that they do not need to go down a separatist path.”

Wright said the FCA welcomed the elements of the national SBC initiative which the Government has indicated will:

• Provide small businesses with a new voice to highlight their issues to the Australian Government
• Provide a one stop shop for small business services and information
• Ensure the interests of small business remain at the forefront of Government policy making

At state level

South Australia is poised to open its small business commission offices on 22 March, with NSW academic Frank Zumbo acting commissioner until a permanent appointment is made. Frank Zumbo told Franchising magazine said the South Australian role will focus on dispute resolution and industry codes of conduct, with franchising and farming target sectors. Talk of a draft code for franchising is "premature", he said.

WA and NSW governments appointed small business commissioners last year; also in 2011 QLD announced a business commissioner. Victoria has had a small business commissioner since 2003.

Both SA and WA small business commission legislation has emerged after the failure of controversial franchising legislation. But the proposals for specific franchising laws continue in WA.

While the FCA has opposed state-based regulation, there has been some support for the bills in the sector from the Franchisees Association of Australia.