The company that canceled Australia Day in hundreds of pubs across the country is owned by a Hong Kong-based company that was co-founded by a Chinese billionaire.
The Asian international conglomerate has been criticized for this move and criticized for disguising its foreign ownership while continuing to gleefully profit from Australian drinkers.
Australian Venue Co announced on Sunday it was canceling its January 26 celebrations, saying it causes “sadness” and “pain” to many customers and staff.
The company has since issued a humiliating apology for saying its venues would avoid Australia Day events because they “cause sadness”.
However, it has not yet been made clear whether its more than 200 venues would be allowed to celebrate the day.
Despite its real name, Australian Venue Co is actually owned by Asian private equity fund PAG, which bought it in August 2023 for around $1.4 billion.
Indigenous Coalition senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price described the company’s boycott of the national day as out of step with mainstream opinion in the wake of Indigenous Voice’s rejection of Parliament last year.
“This decision is the antithesis of what Australians voted for when they voted no on the Voice – that is clear from the immediate public outcry we saw today,” Senator Price told Daily Mail Australia on Monday night.
Australian Venue Co has received massive backlash for its decision to ban Australia Day celebrations at its venues. Pictured are Australia Day revelers on Bondi Beach.
Indigenous Coalition senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price described the company’s decision as “the antithesis of what Australians voted for”.
‘The referendum gave many Australians the confidence to publicly oppose the separatism of these ideological decisions.
‘I encourage those same Australians to continue voting, with their wallets and their feet, taking their businesses to places that do not bow to ideology but encourage the celebration of our incredible country and the freedoms we enjoy on Australia Day . ‘
The January 26 debate has sparked outrage and divided Australians in recent years.
Controversy continues over the celebration of the date when England’s First Fleet arrived to colonize Australia and Arthur Phillip raised the Union Jack to claim Sydney Cove to claim it for the British Crown in 1788.
The resulting dispossession of indigenous peoples has led many to say that the date is one of mourning and loss, and that it has been renamed “Invasion Day.”
Invasion Day marches have grown to thousands of people across the country.
Outspoken commentator Prue MacSween has slammed bosses at Australian Venue Co for turning their backs on Australia Day.
She believed the company’s foreign ownership had a “death wish.”
“It’s just a money-making exercise for these people, they want to exploit Australians, and maybe they should stick to that and not try to impose their values on us,” he said.
“Because it is not welcome, they are parasites of our country.”
MacSween said it was “appalling and insulting” that a non-Australian-owned company would try to cancel national day celebrations.
“Australia’s nationalist pride is paramount and they have underestimated how sacred that is,” he continued.
“Central Australia is sick of this, sick of this, and we’re not going to take it anymore.”
Australian commentator Prue MacSween criticized Australian Venue Co bosses for turning their back on Australia Day and said she believed the company’s foreign ownership had a “death wish”.
It is understood PAG’s ownership of Australian Venue Co could now end in 2025, with the investment giant weighing an exit from the Australian pub trade.
tthe australian reported that the exit may be part of a massive multibillion-dollar share offering on the Hong Kong stock market.
The hospitality giant owns more than 200 venues across Australia, including high-profile bars in Sydney such as Cargo and Bungalow 8, as well as 90 more in Queensland and 60 in Victoria.
The reaction prompted a humiliating apology from company bosses for causing offence.
But it stopped short of a backflip and still invited punters to the pubs on Australia Day, despite a ban on celebrations.
“We can see that our comments over the weekend have caused concern and confusion,” a spokesperson said.
‘We are sincerely sorry: our purpose is to strengthen the community in our places, not divide it.
‘It’s not for us to tell anyone whether or how to celebrate Australia Day. “We acknowledge this and apologize for our comments.”
The spokesperson added: “It was certainly not our intention to offend anyone.”
Warren Mundine (right with Jacinta Nampijinpa Price) described the company’s apology on Monday as “the worst I’ve ever seen.”
The Garden State Hotel in Melbourne is one of the high-profile venues affected
But not everyone was impressed with the apology.
Indigenous activist Warren Mundine, who along with Senator Price led the successful No campaign before the Voice referendum, described the company’s apology as “the worst I have ever seen in my life”.
“They should come out and say they will lift the ban and never do this again,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘We don’t want this kind of bigoted behavior from people who hate Australia and hate Australians.
‘Let this be a lesson for everyone. We love this country and we love our fellow Australians. “We should celebrate our nation.”
As for the suggestion that Australia Day might “cause sadness” for some customers and staff, Mr Mundine was dismissive.
‘What is the sadness? We have something to celebrate. “It’s about celebrating us,” he said.
‘This is a celebration of the Australian character, that we treat each other decently, that we give each other a fair chance.
‘Immigrants can come here and work hard and end up buying a business or a house and educating their children. That’s what Australia Day is all about.
‘I wish people would stop spoiling the party.
Warren Mundine described Australia Day as a “celebration of the Australian character, of us treating each other decently, of giving each other a fair chance”. Pictured are Australia Day revelers.
The Cargo Bar on Sydney’s King Street Wharf (pictured) is among more than 200 venues managed by Australian Venue Co.
However, Australia Venue Co received some support for its decision.
Victoria Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organization chief executive Jill Gallagher told the Melbourne radio station the company had shown bravery.
“I thought they were very brave and very bold to support the first people of this country,” Gallagher said on 3AW Drive.
“How can they expect us to celebrate with all other Australians, when it is a day of pain and suffering?”
Supermarket giants Woolworths and Aldi sparked widespread public outrage earlier this year when the retailers announced they would no longer sell Australia Day products ahead of the January 26 public holiday.
“We know that many people like to use this day as a time to come together and we offer a wide range of products to help customers celebrate the day however they want,” Woolworths announced at the time.
“Woolworths and BIG W celebrate the best of Australia every day and we are proud to support the farmers, producers and suppliers who work with us.”
Brad Banducci resigned as chief executive of Woolworths weeks later in the wake of massive public backlash.