‘Shut up!’: Project host Steve Price blasts pub group’s Australia Day ban

Steve Price did not mince his words on Monday night’s Project after a pub group’s controversial decision to ban Australia Day.

Steve Price has unloaded on Australian Venue Co after the hospitality giant’s controversial decision to ban Australia Day.

The pub group apologised on Monday after widespread backlash and said it “severely regeretted” the move.

But this did not spare them the ire of Price, who told the group to “shut up” in a no holds barred spray on Monday night’s Project.

“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,” he said.

“Last year it was Woolworths, ‘oh we won’t sell the flag’, the CEO, Brad Banducci, ended up losing his job.

“Just shut up and let people throw a lamb chop on the barbecue, have a beer and get on with it.

Steve Price did not mince his words on Monday night’s Project. (Right is Sarah Harris)

“It’s really annoying, they put this out overnight and when they hear the feedback from the public which says ‘shut up’, they go ‘oh we didn’t mean to offend anyone’, well you did offend people!”

Sam Taunton joked that it was because the company “forgot to order enough meat pies”.

Sarah Harris questioned what a ban would look like.

“Are they going to ban merch, T-shirts? It doesn’t make any sense”

Australian Venue Co backflipped on its plan to ban Australia Day festivities for patrons at more than 200 venues around the country after widespread backlash against the decision on Monday.

Popular venues such as Cargo and Bungalow 8 in Sydney, Melbourne’s Garden State Hotel, and The Esplanade in St Kilda would have been among the venues affected.

The contentious decision would have impacted some popular Sydney pubs including Cargo (pictured) and Bungalow 8 in Barangaroo, Kingsleys in Woolloomooloo and The Rook in the CBD.

In a statement , the company admitted the decision had caused “concern and confusion.”

“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.”

The pivot comes after calls were made to boycott the giant following the controversial announcement over the weekend.

“Let’s spread the news of these Australia Day bans far a wide and boycott these hotels, not just on that day, but every day,” one person wrote.

“I’ll make sure I never set foot into any of your pubs ever again,” another man posted.

“Pretty simple really — just boycott the establishments, there are plenty of other alternatives out there,” wrote another.

Arkaba Hotel is having Australia Day celebrations. Sam Breuer - Bar staff and Julia Harris - Sportys Bar Supervisor. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Australian Venue Co had originally directed managers not to allow flagwavers to celebrate in its establishments on January 26.

“Australia Day is a day that causes sadness for some members of our community, so we have decided not to specifically celebrate a day that causes hurt for some of our patrons and our team,” an Australian Venue Co spokeswoman told the Herald Sun.

Following the backlash, the company confirmed it would no longer enforce the directive.

“Whether you choose to celebrate Australia Day or not, everyone is welcome in our pubs, always,” a spokesman said.

“We have been, and are always, open over Australia Day and we continue to book events for patrons.”

But one person wrote they would still boycott the company and its venues.

“Not good enough. All those listed are on my blacklist to never enter again.”

“Why even make this statement in the first place? Maybe they are trying to get out of paying penalty rates or are they trying to cause more divisiveness in the Community again?” added another.

The original decision was also met with fury from Coalition MPs.

Queensland senator Matt Canavan said the private company was acting as “moral guardians”.

Appearing on the Today show, Senator Canavan acknowledged there were differing views on January 26.

“Get off their moral high horse. They’re a pub, for god’s sake They deal in alcohol … I mean, let people have a good time at a pub,” the senator said.

More than 80 councils around the country no longer hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26.

Many regions across Australia, particularly areas with high Indigenous populations, hold community events on January 26, to show solemn support for Aboriginal Australians and the effects of colonisation.

‘Invasion Day’ rallies in the capital cities attract thousands of people.

Australia Day officially became a public holiday on the day of January 26 for all states and territories 30 years ago, in 1994.

The first time January 26 was celebrated as Australia Day was in 1935.

- With NCA newswire

Originally published as ‘Shut up!’: Project host Steve Price blasts pub group’s Australia Day ban