Family First welcomes Australian Venue Co's reversal of its decision to ban Australia Day celebrations at over 200 pubs and bars nationwide.

However, such a ban should never have been considered in the first place.

This incident underscores the importance of supporting venues that genuinely appreciate and celebrate our national identity.

The initial decision to prohibit Australia Day festivities was met with widespread criticism.

Indigenous leader Warren Mundine remarked, "The real reason is they just hate the country. They hate Australians, they hate Australia, and that's why they do these things."

It's also concerning that many of our iconic pubs are owned by foreign private equity firms, such as Singapore-based PAG.

This foreign ownership raises questions about the preservation of our cultural heritage and the influence of external entities on local traditions.

As we approach Australia Day 2025, we encourage Australians to patronize venues where management loves our country, not loathes it.

By supporting locally owned establishments that honour our national day, we ensure that our celebrations remain authentically Australian and uphold the values we hold dear.

Below is a list of some iconic pubs that were initially involved in the boycott:

• The Esplanade Hotel, St Kilda

• Prince of Wales, St Kilda
• Duke of Wellington, Melbourne
• Garden State Hotel, Melbourne
• The Colonist, Adelaide
• Parkside Hotel, Adelaide
• Bungalow 8, Sydney
• Cargo, Sydney
• Port Office Hotel, Brisbane
• Regatta Hotel, Brisbane

Let's make Australia Day 2025 a celebration of our unity, heritage, and the unique Australian character that defines us all.

Let’s hope this is an end of the annual Australia Day wars. It’s time to move on.