Pub giant that banned Australia Day celebrations still planning to slug customers with a public holiday surcharge
The pub giant which backtracked on a controversial decision to ban Australia Day events still plans to hit customers with a public holiday surcharge.
Australian Venue Co has remained tight-lipped on whether a 15 per cent surcharge will apply to more than 200 of its bars and pubs on January 26.
The Hong Kong-owned group sparked massive outrage this week after deciding “not to specifically celebrate a day that hurts some of our customers and team.”
After massive outrage and threats from Australians to boycott the venues, the company apologized and said it was not their “intention to hurt anyone”.
‘We sincerely regret that; our goal is to strengthen the community at our locations, not divide it. It is not our place to tell anyone whether or how Australia Day should be celebrated,” an Australian Venue Co spokesperson said.
“Whether you choose to celebrate Australia Day or not, everyone is always welcome in our pubs.”
Nationals leader David Littleproud said the hospitality group was prepared to boycott Australia Day but was unwilling to miss out on holiday profits.
“The conduct of Australian Venues Co epitomizes the conduct of Australian business. 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 out the group as hypocrites for initially scrapping Australia Day events
Australian Venue Co remains tight-lipped on whether a 15 per cent surcharge will apply to 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 was unwilling to miss out on bank holiday profits
“They use what they see as moral issues for what they think will be their own corporate gain.”
Mr Littleproud added that the hospitality groups were “hypocrites” because one of the pubs, the Espy in St Kilda, previously celebrated “World Lasagna Day”.
Brian Marlow, chairman of the Australian Taxpayers Alliance, believes no pub should charge an extra 15 per cent on Australia Day if it has shown “hatred” for the country and shown no interest in celebrating.
Mr Marlow added he couldn’t understand why many pub owners “whine and whine” about their low income 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.