Outrage as North Brisbane Woolworths kicks out high school students

Parents have been left outraged after high school students were “kicked out” of a busy Woolworths supermarket north of Brisbane on Wednesday afternoon.

Parents have been left outraged after all high school students were “booted” from a busy Woolworths supermarket north of Brisbane on Wednesday afternoon.

A concerned north Brisbane parent has shared her disgust at her local Woolworths after every student from Albany Creek State High School was forced to remove themselves from the store on Wednesday afternoon.

The woman said she was shopping at the supermarket at 3pm when every child from the closest high school at Albany Creek were told they were not welcome and were directed out of the door by staff.

“(The employee) told them they were sick of the theft,” the woman said.

“In all fairness I understand but I think it is rather discriminatory towards every single child some seemed to be lovely well mannered children who left without an issue.

“I wonder if they entered with their parents if they would be asked to leave.”

The social media post sparked debate among parents in the region.

One community member said it was an act of discrimination by Woolworths.

“It’s discriminatory, I can’t always be with my child when she needs something, especially when they are trying to go in and buy themselves lunch or items for cooking that day or sanitary items,” the community member said.

“Not all teenagers are little thieves,” she said.

An Albany Creek parent said she doesn’t blame Woolworths for removing the students.

“As much as I feel sorry for the school kids doing the right thing I don’t blame Woolies for losing their patience with the kids that hang around there before and after school just being a nuisance,” the mother said.

“They do wreck it for everyone.

“My daughter said a student was with their mum this afternoon and got shouted at and told to leave and the staff member didn’t realise the kid was with their parent, suffice to say the parent was not happy.”

Another parent said she had empathy for the store and surrounding businesses for losing money on stolen trade.

“I’ve witnessed kids steal, harass people, ride their bikes and scooters around in the centre without giving a s**t about others walking around,” the parent said.

“I imagine dealing with it every day would be hard to take and I’m sure half the parents of these kids have no idea what they’re doing and also the kids wouldn’t be doing it if their own parents were there.”

A parent of an Albany Creek State High School former student said the students have been told for years that they are not welcome there.

A Woolworths spokesman said the company is aware of the “isolated incident”.

“We have engaged with the local high school in regard to this issue,” the spokesman said.