The John Weeks Show Podcast - 2026-7-6

PROGRAM 071 20260706

FEATURE 1

Interview : Svetlana Foox.

Interview by John Weeks

Simply move to the time of 0:22:16 to hear this in-depth conversation..

When Australian entrepreneur and mum Svetlana Foox set out to build her dream business, she thought she had found the perfect web development partner. 

After months of planning, she searched online for a company to build her new membership platform, VainishPerks.com.au. The business promoted itself as a Shopify development partner and appeared professional, experienced and trustworthy. 

Confident she had found the right team, Foox paid the full development fee upfront and then they disappeared.

Svetlana Foox, an Aussie mumpreneur who was scammed out of thousands of dollars by people claiming to be Shopify developers.

"They simply vanished. My calls weren't returned, my emails went unanswered and I realised the money I'd worked so hard to save was gone," Foox said.  

"It was one of the worst experiences of my life.  I am too embarrassed to share how much money I lost but it was in the thousands." 

FEATURE 2

Outspoken Jim Penman returns to The John Weeks Show!!!

Topic: The Government takes billions from franchisees, then abandons them: Jim Penman's explosive challenge to Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese!

Jim's Group was founded by Jim Penman in 1989 and now has some 5,700 franchisees in more than 50 divisions. It is the largest franchise chain in the Southern Hemisphere.

Interview by John Weeks

Simply move to the time of 1:05:42 to hear this in-depth conversation.

#jimpenman #jimsgroup #FranchiseeSupport #franchisees 

The Government takes billions from franchisees, then abandons them: Jim Penman's explosive challenge to Anthony Albanese

One of Australia's most outspoken business leaders has launched a scathing attack on the Federal Government, accusing it of happily collecting billions in taxes from hardworking franchisees while failing to provide even the most basic protections against rogue franchisors. 

Topic: Franchise reform, government inaction and the need for stronger protections for franchisees

Talking points:
• The latest 7-Eleven franchise controversy
• Why Jim believes the Franchising Code is 'worse than useless'
• The challenge for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to spend a day working as a franchisee
• Concerns about Australians investing life savings into franchises without adequate protection
• The proposal for an independent national franchisee satisfaction survey
• Government taxation of small businesses and franchisees

Jim's Group founder Jim Penman said the latest allegations surrounding 7-Eleven franchisees should serve as a national wake-up call, describing the current Franchising Code as 'worse than useless' and calling on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to spend a day working as a franchisee before claiming the system works.

"The Government is always first in line when it's time to collect tax from small business. It has just changed the capital gains tax rules for many business owners, meaning countless franchisees now fear they'll hand over even more of the wealth they've spent a lifetime creating," Penman said. 

"They collect GST, income tax, payroll tax and company tax, then take another bite when people sell. But when franchisees are left financially devastated by unfair franchising practices, the Government disappears. It wants the revenue, but it refuses to provide meaningful protection. 

"That is disgusting, it is despicable and it is a complete failure of government." 

Millions invested yet no protection 

Penman said Australians often invest hundreds of thousands, and in many cases more than a million dollars, to buy a franchise because they believe it offers a safer pathway into business ownership. 

"They mortgage their homes, use their life savings and put everything on the line believing the Government has rules in place to protect them. They give up their holidays, family time and even work in ill-health, to keep their business going," Penman said. 

"In far too many cases, they discover those protections are little more than an illusion."

He said recent allegations involving 7-Eleven demonstrate how vulnerable franchisees can be. 

"If reports are accurate, franchisees can potentially lose their businesses while having little practical ability to recover their investment," Penman said. 

"How can that possibly be considered fair?" 

The Franchising Code is a failure 

Penman said Australia's existing Franchising Code has become little more than an expensive paperwork exercise. 

"The disclosure documents are hundreds of pages long, written by lawyers for lawyers." 

"Almost nobody reads them." 

"And those who do often don't understand what they're actually signing." 

He said the system creates the appearance of protection while delivering very little. 

"It adds thousands of dollars in compliance costs but fails to stop bad behaviour." 

"That's not regulation. That's bureaucracy." 

The Prime Minister should spend one day in a franchise. 

Penman challenged the Prime Minister and senior ministers to experience life as a franchisee before making decisions about the industry. 

"I challenge Anthony Albanese to spend one full day working in a franchise," Penman said. 

"Open the doors at dawn, serve customers, pay staff, worry about rent, worry about electricity, worry about interest rates, worry about whether you'll still have a business next year." 

"Walk in a franchisee's shoes before pretending you understand what small business owners actually deal with."
 
The simple solution government refuses to adopt 

Penman said he has repeatedly presented governments with what he believes is a simple solution that would dramatically improve transparency across Australia's franchise sector. 

He wants every franchisor to fund an independent annual survey of current and recently departed franchisees, with the results published publicly on a website for prospective buyers. Every person considering purchasing a franchise should be directed to the website to learn about the brand's survey results. 

"Forget glossy brochures and marketing promises, ask the people who actually own the franchises," Penman said. 

"Are they making money, would they recommend the business, have they been treated fairly. That information would expose bad franchisors overnight and save a lot of people from absolute heart- ache." 

Lead by example 

Penman said Jim's Group has already demonstrated the model works. 

"We commissioned Australia's largest independent franchisee satisfaction survey because we believe prospective franchisees deserve to know the truth," Penman said. 

"If we're prepared to be independently assessed, every franchisor should be. Reputable franchise groups have nothing to fear from greater transparency. 

"The only people who would oppose independent reporting are those with something to hide." 

Small business deserves better 

Penman said franchisees represent thousands of Australia's hardest-working small business owners. 

"They create jobs, they serve local communities, they pay taxes and they drive the economy. The very least they deserve is genuine legal protection."

 
Instead, Penman said governments continue introducing regulations that generate work for lawyers while doing little to improve outcomes for franchisees. 

"We've created a system that protects paperwork better than it protects people," Penman said. 

A call for urgent reform 

"Stop pretending the current system works and stop congratulating yourselves on reforms that achieve almost nothing," Penman said. 

"Stop taking taxes from hardworking franchisees while leaving them exposed. If governments genuinely care about small business, prove it. Give franchisees real protection and future franchisees honest information. 

"Stop allowing multinational franchisors to treat Australian small business owners as disposable."