Hardware Giant Encourages Stores to Celebrate ‘Australia Day’ However They Choose

Bunnings has revealed stores are free to choose to celebrate Australia Day however they wish following concerns raised by One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson.

The senator recently claimed she spoke to a Bunnings employee who had been told not to wear items celebrating Australia Day.

Since then, Ms. Hanson has clarified that Bunnings has been in contact with her to explain its position, and she appreciated the company reaching out.

The country’s biggest hardware and garden centre chain, owned by Wesfarmers, told The Epoch Times stores are free to celebrate Australia national day how they choose.

Director of Store Operations Ben Camire said, “We recognise that Australia Day means different things to people across the community and we always want to ensure we respect those views.”

“Consistent with the approach we’ve taken previously, our store teams are free to mark Australia Day in a way that’s right for them and their local communities.

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“In the past, some of our stores have chosen to display the Australian flag alongside the Aboriginal and the Torres Strait Islander flags, and others have run team and customer activities.”

Bunnings revealed it has not provided any direction to stores on what staff can wear for Australia Day.

The company does not offer a dedicated Australia Day product range, but this has been the case for several years at least because it is not part of its usual offering.

On Jan. 11, Ms. Hanson revealed a Bunnings employee had informed her staff were not allowed to wear Australia Day items.

However, on Jan. 12, Senator Hanson issued a new press release stating that Bunnings had reached out to her to discuss the situation.

Ms. Hanson said Australia Day should be about “national pride and unity” rather than shame and division.

“I appreciate Bunnings reaching out to me and saying there was no direction from the business to stores that staff must not wear such items on Australia Day,” she said.

“Bunnings have told me their stores are free to mark Australia Day in a way that’s right for them and their local communities. While their qualification of responsibility gives me some pause, I appreciate the company’s response.

“I appreciate it because like so many other Australians I have had enough of the attacks on our people, our institutions, and our traditions by woke activists and the governments and corporations who foolishly accommodate these attacks. Australia Day should be a day of national pride and unity.”

The latest news comes after supermarket giant Woolworths confirmed it would not be selling any products for Australia Day head of a national public holiday on Jan. 26.