Man charged over Australia Day vandalism at Woolworths

Fraser Barton and Keira Jenkins |

A man has been charged after two Woolworths stores in Brisbane were tagged with pro-Australia Day graffiti.

The incidents follow calls from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton for customers to boycott the supermarket giant after it pulled January 26 merchandise from its shelves.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has warned Mr Dutton to consider the impact of his words after the vandalism and separate reports of customer aggression towards Woolworths staff.

A 40-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly tagging the Woolworths Metro in Teneriffe with “5 days 26 Jan Oi Oi Woolies f*** u”.

The man has also been accused of setting off a flare at the suburban store, activating the fire alarm and prompting the evacuation of nearby apartments.

The flare was extinguished a short time later, and Woolworths confirmed no employees or customers were injured.

BRISBANE WOOLWORTHS VANDALISED
The prime minister took aim at Peter Dutton after he called for a boycott of Woolworths. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

It has since emerged a Woolworths in Cleveland was tagged days earlier.

Police have accused the 40-year-old man of also vandalising that store, along with a Victoria Point business in Brisbane’s south, on Saturday.

The man faces three counts of wilful damage and is due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on February 21.

AAP