University of Queensland magazine article includes how-to guide for stealing

A student magazine in Queensland has faced backlash after publishing a how-to guide for readers on shoplifting.

A student magazine has faced backlash after publishing a how-to guide on shoplifting to support readers through punishing costs of living.

University of Queensland’s independent student newspaper Semper Floreat gave readers of its latest edition a three-tiered manual on what it called “frifting”, a shortening of “free shopping”.

The piece encouraged students, which it likened to the “working class”, to take from “large corporations and not ‘ma and pa’ joints” and only “what you need”.

Readers were told they could help out others by turning a blind eye if they saw someone in the act of “frifting”.

The anonymous author broke the guide into three parts – “grocery stores”, “clothing chains” and “pick your character”, with three rules applying throughout.

Semper Floreat has copped backlash following its article on shoplifting. Picture: Facebook/Semper Floreat

“Consider establishing a ‘safety radius’. Do not frift close to home”, “ensure you’re frifting during peak hours and the busiest days of the week”, and “park (if driving) away from the building, and take CCTV into account”.

Those planning to target a grocery store should wear a face mask and cover identifiable body markings like tattoos, the piece said.

Students were encouraged to pick up “two of each item” at clothing stores and wear the clothes they intended to “frift” out of the store.

They should also select a “character” before setting out, choosing from options like “confused, stressed and clumsy nerd: dress like IT worker, take a phone call”, and “flirtatious, sexy and slow to understand: pretend not to understand self-service”.

Part of the guidelines that were published online. Picture: Semper Floreat

At the bottom of the piece, readers were told: “Semper Floreat does not endorse illegal activity, but recognises that breaking the law is sometimes a human right”.

The publication claimed it pre-emptively prepared a response in anticipation of being asked for comment in connection to its “frifting” article.

“People are struggling to make ends meet. Students incur tens of thousands of dollars of debt, and many are living in poverty as a result,” part of its statement read.

“This is a class war, and the working class is under attack. We have no other option than to stand up, and fight back.”

The publication said it did not endorse illegal activity. Picture: Instagram/Semper Floreat

It also ran a poll in a University of Queensland Facebook group asking members if they thought the piece was “cool” or “not cool”, to which 54 per cent responded “cool” and 25 per cent responded “not cool”.

The article has been criticised by Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace, who told Nine that Semper Floreat “should be withdrawing” the article, while Shadow Education Minister Christian Rowan said it was irresponsible to encourage criminal activity.

“We simply can’t have a situation where people are encouraged to commit criminal offences, otherwise we end up in a situation of anarchy,” he told Nine.

Brisbane City Greens councillor Jonathan Sriranganathan however said there were instances where theft was “ethically justifiable”.