Bunnings sausages targeted again as fake news prompts customer petition

Social-media fraudsters have targeted the Bunnings snag yet again, with fake news posts claiming the hardware giant will charge charities and football clubs $150 to hold sausage sizzles.

Many Australian facebook users were fooled by the posts this month, even starting a petition, before Bunnings confirmed it is not introducing a site fee.

The false claim was posted by a disinformation Facebook page called “Australia Today”.

A graphic in the post states: “BUNNINGS DESTROYS THE AUSSIE SAUSAGE SIZZLE”.

“Bunnings will now charge local charities and footy clubs a massive $150 SITE FEE,” the graphic reads.

“A multibillion-dollar corporation is actively killing off our greatest WEEKEND TRADITION.

“Hardworking local volunteers are being completely sold out for pure CORPORATE GREED.”

The post also claims the supposed fee will take effect on October 1.

The post gained more than 70,000 views within days, and a change.org petition was even started for customers to lobby Bunnings not to charge the site fee.

But the hardware chain said the claims were totally incorrect.

“We don’t charge community groups any fee for hosting a sausage sizzle at our store, and all funds raised go directly to the group,” a spokesperson said.

Additionally, Bunnings’ eight-page information pack for organisations holding sausage sizzles has no mention of any site fees.

Bunnings has been the target of multiple false online claims, including that Indian food is being served in place of sausages at some fundraisers.

Another post by the Australia Today page claims Commonwealth Bank has stopped its post office banking service, resulting in “millions” being cut off from the service.

“CommBank is pulling out of Australia Post, cutting off 1,200 regional towns from BASIC BANKING,” the post reads.

“Elderly Aussies are being completely abandoned as big banks prioritize massive CORPORATE PROFITS.

“Pensioners now face brutal three-hour drives just to access their own HARD-EARNED CASH.”

But this is also false. Commonwealth Bank announced in 2021 that it had reached an agreement with Australia Post to extend post office banking to 2032.

A bank spokesperson said this agreement remains unchanged.

-AAP