A hospitality giant has issued a grovelling apology for saying it won’t be holding Australia Day celebrations in its more than 200 pubs and clubs nationwide because it ’causes sadness’, sparking a furious rant from outspoken commentator Steve Price on The Project.
Australian Venue Co says it ‘sincerely regretted’ the effect its controversial decision has had on offended Aussie revellers wishing to celebrate the national public holiday at its popular venues.
‘We can see that our comments on the weekend have caused both concern and confusion,’ a statement released on Monday.
‘We sincerely regret that – our purpose is to reinforce community in our venues, not divide it.
‘It is not for us to tell anyone whether or how to celebrate Australia Day. We acknowledge that and we apologise for our comments. It certainly wasn’t our intention to offend anyone.’
Australia Venue Co has not yet indicated any specific Australia Day events would be held in their venues, despite the apology.
‘Across our community of team members and patrons, many different views are held (about Australia Day) and we acknowledge that,’ the statement added.
‘Whether you choose to celebrate Australia Day or not, everyone is welcome in our pubs, always.
Australia Venue Co, which owns many high-profile and popular pubs and clubs such as Sydney’s Bungalow 8, has issued an apology over saying Australia Day events wouldn’t be held in its venues because they ’cause sadness’
‘We have been, and are always, open over Australia Day and we continue to book events for patrons.’
Australian Venue Co owns 200 properties across Australia, including at least 90 in Queensland and another 60 in Victoria.
They include the Bungalow8, Cargo, Kingsley’s Woolloomooloo, and Parkside Hotel in Sydney, as well as the Esplanade Hotel, Prince of Wales, Duke of Wellington and Garden State Hotel in Melbourne.
Also on the company’s books are the Claremont Hotel and Bassendean Hotels in Perth, the Regatta Hotel, Boundary Hotel, and the riverfront Fridays bar in Brisbane and well as the Parkside Hotel and the Colonist in Adelaide.
A long-running campaign to abolish Australia Day or change the date has a growing number of Aussies feeling uneasy about our national day of celebration.
Indigenous activists, and many other Australians, now regard the day British settlers who first landed in Port Jackson on the First Fleet in 1788 as an event to be mourned, not celebrated.
Supermarket giants Woolworths and Aldi sparked major public outrage earlier this year when the retailers announced they would no longer sell Australia Day merchandise ahead of the January 26 public holiday.
Australian Venue Co’s announcement has sparked a huge backlash on social media and from public figures.
Conservative commentator Steve Price was the latest to weigh in on the controversy on The Project on Monday night when he questioned the company’s apology.
‘Apology not accepted! When are these finger waving woke corporations going to wake up to the fact we don’t want them to tell us what to do on Australia Day,’ Price fumed.
‘Last year, it was Woolworths, we won’t sell a flag.
‘Brad Banducci ended up losing his job. Let people throw a lamb chop on the barbecue, have a beer, and get on with it.
‘It’s really annoying. They put this out overnight, when they hear the feedback from the public, which says, “shut up”, they say ‘we didn’t mean to offend anyone, Smith fumed.
‘You did offend people!’
Indigenous activist Warren Mundine had some colourful advice for those wanting to celebrate on January 26.
Sunday’s announcement by Australia Venue Co prompted a huge backlash on social media and from public figures
‘Don’t bother about having a drink in their venues, p*** these bastards off,’ he said after learning of the boycott.
Mr Mundine, who led the successful campaign against the Indigenous Voice to Parliament last year, said the real reason ‘ woke companies’ refuse to celebrate Australia Day is ‘ they just hate the country’.
‘They hate Australians, they hate Australia, and that’s why they do these things,’ he said.
Mr Mundine urged Aussie revellers to instead head to the beach, put some lamb and sausages on the barbecue or get takeaway from a venue ‘that actually cares about this country – not a hater of Australians – and we’ll have a great time’.
Wurundjeri elder Ian Hunter added: ‘It is condescending, they think we are doing the best thing for Indigenous peoples.’
Former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett branded the decision as ‘extraordinary’ and ‘divisive’.
‘They are totally out of touch with the community,’ he said.
‘If no one wants to participate in Australia Day celebrations at one of their venues that would be fine.’
A number of accounts on X were sharing lists of places owned by Australian Venue Co and urging they be boycotted year around.
‘Australian pubs boycotting Australia Day? I love Australia Day,’ one tweet said.
‘Some of my best memories are from Australia Day. I love my car, home, TV, food, medical etc. If the English didn’t come, I wouldn’t be here today.
‘Below is the link to the list of pubs to boycott.’
