Franchise Law Briefing
17 June 2026
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ACCC commences Federal Court proceedings against Grill’d over ‘Tree Day Tuesday’ greenwashing15 June 2026 • ACCC media releases (Australia)The ACCC has taken Grill’d to the Federal Court alleging its ‘Tree Day Tuesday’ campaign was misleading because only about 4% of purchases actually qualified for the promised donation — a major greenwashing case with clear lessons for every franchise system running cause-based marketing.
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MST Lawyers analysis: ACCC v Grill’d as a wake-up call on greenwashing and marketing transparency17 June 2026 • MST Lawyers (Australia)This legal commentary makes the point that franchise businesses making environmental or social impact claims in their marketing need solid evidence to back them up, because the ACCC’s action against Grill’d shows the regulator is stepping up enforcement against greenwashing under the Australian Consumer Law.
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Grill’d could be forced to donate millions for allegedly burying the fine print16 June 2026 • The Age – Business (Australia)The ACCC’s case alleges Grill’d promoted a $1-per-burger donation but buried qualifying conditions so deeply that only roughly 4% of purchases counted, with potential remedies including court-ordered donations — a stark warning about misleading promotional claims across franchise networks.
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Ugg boot retailer pays penalties for strikethrough pricing claims14 June 2026 • ACCC media releases (Australia)Christofi Investments copped $39,600 in infringement notice penalties for using misleading strikethrough pricing, reinforcing that the ACCC is actively policing false reference pricing — something retail franchise operators need to get right.
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Yum! Brands to sell Pizza Hut operations in US$2.7B deal17 June 2026 • QSR Media (Australia)Yum! Brands has approved the sale of Pizza Hut operations in a US$2.7 billion deal expected to close in Q3 2026, and Australian Pizza Hut franchisees should be watching closely for any flow-on effects to their franchise arrangements.
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Public liability risks every franchise business owner should know16 June 2026 • Business Franchise Australia (Australia)Franchise businesses carry particular public liability risks tied to shared branding, high foot traffic, contractor arrangements and food handling, making it essential to review insurance coverage and how risk is allocated in franchise agreements.
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Retail Food Group scales Firehouse Subs amid rising property costs16 June 2026 • QSR Media (Australia)RFG is pushing ahead with Firehouse Subs expansion to 15 Southeast Queensland sites, but rising rents and fit-out costs are squeezing margins — a real viability concern for QSR franchisees assessing whether new sites stack up financially.
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Business bodies fight back against capital gains tax changes15 June 2026 • Inside Small Business (Australia)Industry groups are pushing back hard against proposed capital gains tax changes and the pace of their introduction, which could hit franchise resale values and make it tougher for small business owners planning their exit.
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RBA holds interest rates steady but warns another hike is possible17 June 2026 • Inside Small Business (Australia)The RBA has kept the cash rate on hold but left the door open for another increase, which means franchise operators and anyone looking to buy into a franchise still face real uncertainty around borrowing costs.
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Business Council warns of national consequences from Victorian WFH laws16 June 2026 • Inside Small Business (Australia)Victoria’s new laws giving workers the right to two remote days per week could ripple nationally, creating headaches for franchise employers trying to manage rostering, compliance and consistent operations across multiple states.
Minerva Law — Specialist Franchise Lawyers •
minervalaw.com.au
minervalaw.com.au