Backlash against the backlash as polarised Australians react to Bunnings’ new snag rule

He was meant to be talking to the world’s most powerful people about war and trade, but ScoMo was knocked for six by a question about sausages.

It might be one of most hard-hitting questions Prime Minister Scott Morrison will ever have to deal with in his political career.

Mr Morrison was supposed to be looking important and talking tough as he geared up for meetings in a whirlwind overseas trip to meet some of the world’s most powerful people at the ASEAN summit.

But, as he fielded questions on his controversial Israel policy, trade deals and China’s influence in the Asia Pacific region — one intrepid journalist’s question knocked ScoMo for a boundary.

The as yet unidentified reporter wanted to know the Prime Minister’s opinion on an issue which has divided the nation — where we should place the onions inside a Bunnings sausage sanga.

“Sorry?” asked Mr Morrison as he leaned forward with a wry smile to listen carefully to the perplexing question. Once he’s gauged the gravity of the situation, he offered a calm, statesman like response.

I love Australia so much. In what other place would the nation's leader be asked about a hardware store changing its policy on charity sausages - a journo just asked Scott Morrison about the Bunnings sausage/onion drama pic.twitter.com/gbMN90tSZA

— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) November 14, 2018

“Whether the onions are on top or underneath or on top, I’ll always be buying sausages on bread whether it’s at the football, whether it’s at Bunnings or anywhere I can assist to those great charitable causes,” he said.

“And, can I particularly say to those who are cooking them who are out there supporting their local sporting teams, charities and all the rest of them, how good are you. People of all ages do this it’s part of our Australian life that we support local community organisations. It’s part of what we do and I’m not going to give them any recipe hints.”

It all came about because Aussies meandering around Bunnings stores have recently begun to notice that fried onion can no longer be placed on top of a snag. It’s now on the bottom.

Since Bunnings revealed this devastating bombshell yesterday, saying pieces of fallen onion can become a “slipping hazard” for its shoppers, Australia has reacted in the only way it knows how — by collectively losing its mind on social media.

Feeding into the national Zeitgeist as he so often tries, morning show co-host Karl Stefanovic has firmly placed his flag on the side of the “health and safety gone mad” crowd.

“This will ruin Australia,” he boldly claimed on the Today show. “Australia will not make it through today if this happened.

The iconic Bunnings sausage sizzle is undergoing a change for safety reasons! Now, the onions have to go UNDERNEATH the sausage in case they fall out and people slip on them... 🙄 #9Today pic.twitter.com/rcohcUSvxM

— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) November 13, 2018

“Bunnings, you’ve done a lot of things right. But, I’m sorry, you’ve got this one wrong. You don’t mess with perfection.”

His sentiment echoed many of the thousands of comments which flooded onto social media in the past 24 hours as the news filtered through the internet like a raging fire.

However, a counter-narrative has begun to emerge against the predictable outrage which followed the bombshell announcement.

On news.com.au’s social media pages thousands may have taken aim at the “red tape overkill” which is reportedly going to destroy Australian culture forever.

But, the most popular comments were those that actually came out in support of the hardware giant for looking out for its customers.

In what could be the most Australian moment of 2018, the outraged, it seemed, were becoming outraged at the outraged in a fierce debate over Bunnings sausage snags on social media.

“If this is all it takes for you to get upset, medication may be required,” quipped one commenter on Facebook.

“I’ve done quite a few Sausage Sizzles at my local Bunnings and I always put the onion on first,” wrote another.

Bunnings customers cottoned on to the change in the past week. Picture: Instagram

“If your biggest worry is whether the onion or the sausage goes on first, you must be living a hell of a life with no major problems!”

Others praised Bunnings for taking a stand on the issue.

“For those mocking Bunnings for this decision, you do realise that it would have been some lazy customer who dropped onion on the floor and didn’t pick it up, therefore causing another customer to slip and carry on / complain about it,” wrote one commenter.

As someone who worked the Bunnings barbecue at the weekend, this slight change has the potential to cause chaos. A dark day indeed. https://t.co/QpdyIADZHT

— Sean Thompson (@SeanThompson090) November 13, 2018

Praying for the person who slipped on a stray Bunnings BBQ onion sliver and prompted this policy change

— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) November 13, 2018

“Thank your own fellow customers for this change not just Bunnings!”

Yesterday, Bunnings chief operating officer Debbie Poole explained why they were taking such a bold step on the issue.

“Safety is always our number one priority and we recently introduced a suggestion that onion be placed underneath sausages to help prevent the onion from falling out and creating a slipping hazard,” she said.

Will Australia ever be the same again? Only time will tell.

It is understood the rule was quietly ushered in recently but word spread this week, prompting a flurry of interest.

“This recommendation is provided to the community groups within their fundraising sausage sizzle welcome pack and is on display within the gazebos when barbecues are underway,” Ms Poole said.

Bunnings doesn’t believe the change will have much of an impact though.

“Regardless of how you like your onion and snag, we are confident this new serving suggestion will not impact the delicious taste or great feeling you get when supporting your local community group,” Ms Poole said.