A customer was denied service when he asked to have a page from a Jewish newspaper laminated at stationery giant Officeworks in March.
Officeworks has apologised after a man was denied service when he asked to have a newspaper page from a Jewish publication laminated.
The incident was captured on video in March and shared on Aug. 1 by Victorian MP David Southwick.
Southwick labelled the content of the video “appalling behaviour” and said he would write to Officeworks.
“This is disgraceful,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
In the video, a female manager in the printing section can be seen refusing to laminate a page from the Australian Jewish News newspaper.
When asked why, she says “I am pro-Palestinian.”
Related Stories
The Jewish man who is being served responds “that’s okay, you’re here to do a job.”
But the clerk tells him Officeworks has a right to deny jobs.
When the customer asks if it’s an Officeworks position, she said “yes” and repeats that she is allowed to deny jobs and does not feel “comfortable” because she is “pro-Palestinian.”
The Epoch Times understands the incident happened in March, but the customer believed it needed to be shared for awareness.
Disciplinary Action Taken
Officeworks managing director Sarah Hunter said the company, which is owned by Wesfarmers who also owns Coles, Bunnings, Kmart, and Target in Australia, learned of the incident when it happened it March.
“We were deeply disappointed that it occurred and confirm that the customers job should have been performed by the team member,” she told The Epoch Times.
“We confirm that we have taken this matter extremely seriously investigated the matter at the time and took appropriate disciplinary action. The views expressed by the team member are not Officeworks’ views.”
Hunter said the chain of retail stores did not discriminate against customers.
“At Officeworks, we do not discriminate against our customers on the basis of political views, religious beliefs, gender, sexuality or race,” she said.
“We provide ongoing training and education to our team members so that they understand the importance of treating all of our customers with respect and dignity.
“Arising out of this incident, relevant team members received education through the Melbourne Holocaust Museum.
“We sincerely regret that this incident occurred and for the distress caused to the customer.”
‘A Front for Anti-Semitism,’ Says Jewish Representative
The Australian Jewish Association (AJA) expressed deep concern over the event, which happened to a member of their organisation.
“A Jewish man was refused service at Officeworks because he wanted to laminate a copy of a Jewish newspaper,” AJA CEO Robert Gregory told The Epoch Times.
“The employee seemed to think that because she is a ‘Palestinian activist,’ that she was entitled to deny the man service.
“The victim is a member of the Australian Jewish Association and phoned me immediately after the incident.”
Gregory said the incident was a sign that the “free Palestinian” movement was less about helping Palestinians and more a “front for anti-Semitism.”
“Time and again, activists are exposed for targeting members of the Jewish community. It is unacceptable in Australia in 2024,” he said.
“Officeworks must immediately fire this woman, as they would if any other minority was targeted.”
