A man has been charged with allegedly lighting a flare and spray painting pro-Australia Day slogans on a Woolworths Metro store in the early hours of January 15.
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He painted "5 days 26 Jan Oi Oi Woolies f--- u" and other slogans on the outside of the Teneriffe supermarket in inner-city Brisbane, police said.
The 40-year-old Ormiston man also allegedly set off a flare which activated the fire alarm causing the apartment building above the store to be evacuated.
The man tagged the shop at 5am, before it had opened and no customers or staff were injured, Woolworths said.
Police charged the 40-year-old with one count of wilful damage and wilful damage by graffiti and he is expected to appear before Brisbane Magistrate's Court on February 21.
Opposition leader calls for boycott
The graffiti comes after Woolworths, Big W, Aldi and Kmart announced Australia Day merchandise would not be stocked at their stores due to declining interest and sales.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton called for a boycott of the stores saying the decision was "against the national interest" and an "outrage" on January 11.
Prime minister Anthony Albanese responded to Mr Dutton's comments on January 15.
"His big statement was to call for a boycott of Woolworths as well as I assume Aldi and Kmart - they employ over 200,000 Australians," Mr Albanese said to ABC Radio.
"He needs to explain whether that boycott is forever, or whether it's just until Australia Day and what the impact on those people who work for these companies will be."
Anna Houlahan
Anna Houlahan is a journalist for the Courier, dedicated to uncovering the stories that shape the city. Reach out with news or updates to anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.com.au
