A Woolworths store has been tagged with pro-Australia Day graffiti as the prime minister slammed the opposition leader over his call for a boycott of the supermarket giant.
About 5am on Monday morning emergency services were called after vandals targeted a Woolworths Metro in the Brisbane suburb of Teneriffe.
They painted “5 days 26 Jan Aussie Oi Oi Woolies f*** u” on its exterior and set off a flare inside the business, which Queensland Police said was quickly extinguished.
A Woolworths spokesperson confirmed that no employees or customers were injured.
“We’re grateful to the police and fire brigade who attended,” they said in a statement to AAP.
“There’s no reason for vandalism and we’ll continue to liaise with Queensland Police.”
A crime scene has been declared and investigations are ongoing.
The attack came as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to consider the impact his boycott call could have on supermarket employees.
On Thursday Mr Dutton took to the airwaves to condemn the grocery giant after Woolworths announced it would not stock Australia Day-themed paraphernalia due to declining sales over recent years.
Though the opposition leader has previously denounced “cancel culture”, he called on Australians to boycott Woolworths. Mr Albanese added to the conversation on Monday, warning Mr Dutton to think about workers. “His big statement was to call for a boycott of Woolworths as well as I assume Aldi and Kmart – they employ over 200,000 Australians,” he told ABC radio.
“He needs to explain whether that boycott is forever, or whether it’s just until Australia Day .
