Bunnings: Farmer rejected during Covid lockdown, tradies only

A farmer at Moriac, trying to purchase goods for livestock water, was denied access to Bunnings because he wasn’t a tradie.

A farmer was shocked to be told he could not go directly to Bunnings to buy vital supplies during the Covid lockdown.

Bunnings refused to serve a Western Victorian farmer during the state’s regional lockdown stating it was open to trade customers only.

The Moriac farmer recently went to his local Waurn Ponds Bunnings store for supplies, after driving a star picket through a pipe that cut off supply to stock troughs across several of his paddocks.

But when he got to the store staff refused to serve him because he wasn’t a `tradie’ and didn’t have suitable Bunnings ‘trade cards’.

The farmer was also rejected by Mitre 10 because he did not ‘have an account’.

The farmer then rang the Waurn Ponds store to check again and was told it could not serve the “general public or farmers”, other than offering the online click and collect service.

The farmer, who does not wish to be named, contacted local MP Beverly McArthur.

“Farmers are running a business. It is their trade,” Mrs McArthur said.

“In fact, it’s an essential trade if Australians want to eat cereal and toast in the morning, or eggs and bacon, or an apple, or roast lamb for dinner or carrot soup. Even chickpeas.

“It’s hard to argue farmers are not the most essential trade of all. They must be allowed access to proper commerce.”

In an email to Mrs McArthur, the farmer said it was a “prime example of why farmers should have access to Bunnings”.

Mrs McArthur said the issue affects farmers across the state. And while many may have access to smaller, local trade suppliers – the larger companies often provide capacity in emergency scenarios, and offer longer opening hours.

Refusing trade in such cases also exposes farmers to potential animal cruelty.

“This is a perfect example where the inability to access supplies puts a farmer into a position where animal welfare obligations are at stake.

“In this instance, it was the ability to provide water to stock. What could be more essential.”

Bunnings operations general manager Ryan Baker said “since the outset of the pandemic and throughout various lockdowns, we have continued to follow local government guidelines in each of the states and territories where we operate.

“We never like to hear about a customer having a poor experience at our stores. We’ve reached out to Mrs McArthur to get the customer’s details so see how we can assist.”

“For all our customers in regional Victoria, our stores will reopen from tomorrow, excluding in the Greater Shepparton region, and we are looking forward to welcoming them back.”