In Sydney’s Circular Quay, a restaurant called Penelope’s will be serving an “Invasion Day” menu on January 26 to show support for Indigenous Australians.
Three new dishes will be featured on the menu, including an up-market take on an Australian classic.
The menu features kangaroo tail, halal snack packs, and caviar fairy bread. Cuong Nguyen, the restaurant’s owner, said that Invasion Day reflected Australia’s diversity and culture. He added that it plays a role in the national discussion about the day.
The goal of the menu is to raise awareness about Australia’s Indigenous community and show support for the restaurant’s local residents. According to Nguyen, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to a local charity organization known as Tribal Warrior. The establishment is among a number of local businesses that have publicly stated their stance on the issue.
In response to the declining demand for Australia Day merchandise, Woolworths said it would not be selling the products in 2024.
The company noted that it offers a wide range of products that can be used to celebrate the holiday. Big W, another subsidiary of Woolworths, also said it would not be participating in the holiday.
In response, ALDI and Coles noted that they would still be selling certain Australia Day products in the holiday. Peter Dutton, the opposition leader, called on customers to boycott Woolworths. He said the company’s decision to stop selling the products was outrageous and contradicted the national interest.
Anthony Albanese, Australia’s Prime Minister, criticized Dutton’s comments, calling them an extraordinary overreach.