Peter Dutton calls on patrons to cancel bookings at pubs that banned Australia Day celebrations
A passionate federal Opposition leader has come out swinging against pubs that banned Australia Day celebrations, calling on customers to take their business elsewhere.
Manly
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Opposition leader Peter Dutton has called on patrons to cancel Christmas and Australia Day bookings and boycott pubs that have banned January 26 celebrations.
A passionate Mr Dutton lashed out on Wednesday at the owners of Australian Venue Co, the nation’s second-largest pub group, which banned celebrations at 15 of its NSW venues over concerns the holiday caused some people “sadness and hurt”.
Speaking in Sydney, he said the massive public backlash against the company’s decision showed Australians “don’t want to be told what to think by pubs”.
“They want to go to the pub, they want to have a beer, they want to have a steak and catch up with their mates, unwind, watch a bit of sport on the TV,” Mr Dutton said.
“They don’t want to be told what the company believes … or that they shouldn’t celebrate this or that.
“If you’ve got a Christmas booking . . or an Australia Day booking with your friends and family that’s at a pub that’s not celebrating Australia Day, cancel it.
“Go to another pub that’s celebrating Australia Day.
“(Then) you’ll see the company’s change their behaviours pretty quickly”.
Mr Dutton came out swinging while visiting Dee Why on Wednesday for a voter roundtable with the newly selected Liberal federal election candidates for the crucial northern beaches seats of Mackellar and Warringah — both held by “teal” MPs.
He said all people should celebrate living in the “best country in the world”.
“We’re not a perfect country,” he said.
“We don’t have a perfect history, but what we should do is gather together on days of national significance, like Australia Day, like Anzac Day and celebrate what we have.”
Mr Dutton then pointed out the pub company had not indicated that it would shut down its poker machines or reduce the price of beer on Australia Day, even though it said it “philosophically” supported the holiday.
“They’re still happy to make money,” he said.
“I think they should be supporting our national cause, and our national cause is best advanced when we celebrate the great country we are.”
Australian Venue Co issued an apology on Monday following public backlash over its ban, saying it “sincerely” regretted any offence caused.
However, it did not say it would now allow its pubs to acknowledge Australia Day.
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