Franchisee activist and long-serving Liberal Jo Gash quits federal politics

Franchisee activist and long-serving New South Wales Liberal Jo Gash will quit federal politics to pursue local politics.

Gash has announced she will not seek pre-selection for the federal seat of Gilmore, but instead will run for mayor. She has held Gilmore, the southern coastal NSW seat encompassing Kiama, Nowra, Jervis Bay Territory and Bawley Point, since 1996.

Gash told her local paper, the South Coast Register, she was unhappy with the state of local politics in Nowra, adding: “I want the community to have pride again, in their town and in their council.”

She said she would not run for Shoalhaven mayor as a Liberal, but instead hoped to stand with a Labor member.

“I certainly would not be happy with running a Liberal ticket,” Gash is quoted as saying. “Local government is about local people and local representation, not party politics.”

Gash was contacted for comment this morning. She told SmartCompany last year that the Franchise Council of Australia favoured franchisors over franchisees.

She called for the establishment of a small business and family enterprises ombudsman, and for franchisors to be required to negotiate in good faith.

Gash also described the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission as a “toothless tiger” when it came to monitoring problems within franchising.