Over 200 bars and pubs across Australia won't be hosting Australia Day celebrations in 2025, including two in Mandurah.
In a statement, Australian Venue Co, who is the country's second-largest hospitality group, said the day causes sadness and hurt for their patrons and staff.
""Australia Day is a day that causes sadness for some members of our community, so we have decided not to specifically celebrate a day that causes hurt for some of our patrons and our team," an Australia Venues Co spokesperson said.
They own 26 venues across Perth including The Peninsula in Mandurah and Cobblers in Falcon.
Other venues include Market Grounds, The Guildford Hotel, The Court and The Aviary.
Speaking on Sunrise on Monday morning, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Murray Watt said it is out of the government's hands.
"Our government is not one that is going to be dictating to pubs what they've got to do...we don't live in North Korea, we're not going to be having a government that tells pubs what they've got to do on particular days of the week," he said.
"We'll leave that for those businesses to decide and their patrons will make their own decisions about what they do."
Tragic update in search for missing man Robert Snyder
Premier Roger Cook to leave Kwinana electorate, move to Perth
Mandurah Marine Rescue's new vessel named in memory of nun who survived 1959 boating accident
Teen dies in motorbike crash at Waroona Dam
Shark alert issued after whale carcass reported at Preston Beach
Kwinana businesses to refuse serving students during school hours
Men attacked, campervan windows smashed in East Rockingham
Entries for 2026 Castaways Sculpture Awards now open
Meadow Springs man pleads guilty to threatening to kill PM and NSW Premier