Man charged with vandalising Woolies store in Australia Day protest
A man is charged with defacing a Woolies store in protest of the company’s decision not to stock Australia Day merchandise.
A man accused of trashing a Woolies store over the company’s decision not to stock Australia Day merch faces a lengthy delay to his matter due to medical records not being disclosed.
Travis Matthew Profke was not required to attend Brisbane Arrests Court when his matter was briefly mentioned on Wednesday morning.
The 40-year-old initially blamed an “out of body experience” for his alleged defacing of a Woolworths store in the inner Brisbane suburb of Teneriffe in early January by setting off a flare at the door and spray-painting “5 days 26 Jan Aussie Oi Oi Woolies F*** U” and “boycott Woolies” on the storefront.
Mr Profke’s solicitor Hugh Stitt sought a six-week adjournment during Wednesday’s brief mention.
He said Mr Profke’s medical records, including a disclosure of his hospital records, were still outstanding.
The court was told case conferencing could occur at the Arrests Court to avoid any further delays if the matter was sent to the Brisbane Magistrates Court list.
Mr Profke’s bail was continued and the matter will return to the Arrests Court on May 1.
Mr Profke is facing three counts of wilful damage by graffiti and two counts of wilful damage.
Police allege he defaced a Woolworths store on Commercial Rd in Teneriffe on January 15, spray-painting a message to boycott Woolworths on the storefront and setting off a flare, which triggered the building’s fire alarm.
The alleged attack was captured on CCTV and released to the public by police.
Mr Profke’s other charges of wilful damage relate to allegations other properties in Cleveland and Victoria Point were vandalised days before the Teneriffe store was allegedly targeted.
In an interview with 7 News, Mr Profke said the alleged incident was an “out of body experience” and expressed remorse but stood by his message to Woolworths over their decision about Australia Day merchandise.
“It wasn’t a conscious episode,” Mr Profke said.
“It wasn’t the right way to go about it.”
Under his bail conditions, he is forbidden from going within 50m of any Woolworths store.
Woolworths sparked nationwide outrage after announcing it was ditching its Australia Day-themed merchandise from stores, including Big W, earlier this year.
The company said “gradual decline” in demand for the merchandise over the years was behind the decision, along with “broader discussion” about the January 26 date and “what it means” to different parts of the community.