---
title: "Notice of dispute under the Franchising Code, with ADR referral and Ombudsman request"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/precedents/franchising-and-distribution/notice-of-dispute"
type: "precedent"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "a34-notice-of-dispute"
area_id: "A34"
kind: "notice"
ai_level: "yellow"
version: 1
law_stated_as_at: "2026-10-17"
---

# Notice of dispute under the Franchising Code, with ADR referral and Ombudsman request

> Notice of dispute meeting s 72(1) of the Franchising Code (nature of the dispute, outcome wanted, proposed resolution), with a follow-up ADR referral and a request for the Ombudsman to appoint an ADR practitioner.

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/precedents/franchising-and-distribution/notice-of-dispute  
Law stated as at: 2026-10-17

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

- Kind: Notice. A formal notice to serve or publish.
- Practice area: [Franchising & Distribution](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/franchising-and-distribution.md)
- Jurisdictions: Australia
- AI level: Yellow. AI can help in set ways. A lawyer checks specific points before use.
- Law stated as at: 2026-10-17
- Status: Maintained. Checked on 2026-10-17 against the 4 authorities it cites, for Australia.

## When to use it

Use by a franchisee or franchisor to start the Code’s dispute process, or the agreement’s equivalent procedure. Do not use to start court proceedings; the Code does not stop a party going to court (s 68), but urgent relief needs separate advice.

## How AI may be used

AI may structure the dispute summary and chronology from the file. The lawyer settles how the dispute is characterised, the outcome sought and any without prejudice content.

**AI may:**

- Draft a chronology and a neutral summary of the dispute from correspondence, with references
- Check the notice covers each s 72(1) element
- Calculate the 21-day and 14-day periods

**AI must not:**

- Must not decide the outcome to be sought or concessions to offer
- Must not include without prejudice settlement proposals in an open notice
- Must not process the other party’s confidential information in an unapproved tool

**The lawyer checks:**

- Dispute described accurately and within any time limits in the agreement
- Outcome and proposed resolution realistic and consistent with the client’s instructions
- Notice served as the agreement requires

## Authorities

- [Competition and Consumer (Industry Codes—Franchising) Regulations 2024 (Cth) ss 69, 70, 71, 72 (complaint procedure and notification of dispute)](https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2024L01605/latest/text)
- [Competition and Consumer (Industry Codes—Franchising) Regulations 2024 (Cth) ss 74, 75, 77 (ADR process, attendance and costs)](https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2024L01605/latest/text)
- [Competition and Consumer (Industry Codes—Franchising) Regulations 2024 (Cth) s 16 (functions of the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman)](https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2024L01605/latest/text)
- [Competition and Consumer (Industry Codes—Franchising) Regulations 2024 (Cth) s 58 (termination grounds for which a franchisee may notify a dispute)](https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2024L01605/latest/text)

## Full text and drafting notes

The full text and the drafting notes are not part of this public page. Signed-in firm accounts can read them at https://ailawframework.com/precedents/franchising-and-distribution/notice-of-dispute and through the signed-in MCP connector https://ailawframework.com/mcp/firm.

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*