The pub giant that backtracked on a controversial decision to ban Australia Day events is still planning to slug customers with a public holiday surcharge.
Australian Venue Co has remained tight-lipped about whether a 15 per cent surcharge will apply at more than 200 of its bars and pubs on January 26.
The Hong Kong-owned group sparked mass outrage this week after it decided not to ‘specifically celebrate a day that causes hurt for some of our patrons and our team’.
After mass outrage and threats from Aussies to boycott its venues, the company issued an apology saying it was not their ‘intention to hurt anyone’.
‘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,’ a spokesperson for Australian Venue Co said.
‘Whether you choose to celebrate Australia Day or not, everyone is welcome in our pubs, always.’
Nationals leader David Littleproud said the hospitality group was prepared to boycott Australia Day but not willing to miss out on public holiday profits.
‘The behaviour of Australian Venues Co epitomises the behaviour of corporate Australia. We saw it during the Voice (referendum),’ he told the Daily Telegraph.
One of Australian Venue Co’s pubs, The Esplanade ‘Espy’, in St Kilda, Melbourne (pictured), has celebrated world lasagna day – with Nationals leader David Littleproud calling the group out as hypocrites for initially scrapping Australia Day events
Australian Venue Co has remained tight-lipped about whether a 15 per cent surcharge will apply at more than 200 of its bars and pubs on January 26 (pictured, Australia Day in 2010)
Nationals leader David Littleproud (pictured) said the hospitality group was prepared to boycott Australia Day but not willing to miss out on public holiday profits
‘They are using what they perceive as moral issues for what they believe will be their own corporate gain.’
Mr Littleproud added the hospitality groups were ‘hypocrites’ because one of its pubs, the Espy in St Kilda, has previously celebrated ‘world lasagna day’.
Australian Taxpayers Alliance president Brian Marlow believes that no pub should be allowed to charge an extra 15 per cent on Australia Day if they have shown ‘hate’ for the country and expressed no interest in celebrating it.
Mr Marlow added that he couldn’t understand why a lot of pub owners ‘b**** and moan’ about their low revenue but then ‘want to slap people in the face who want to go to the pub on Australia Day’.
Daily Mail Australia contacted Australian Venue Co for comment.
