Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has sparked fury by promoting a Filipino fast-food chain that is expanding into the Australian market.
Mr Albanese, who is in the Philippines for the 2026 ASEAN summit, shared a video of himself visiting a Jollibee restaurant in Manila on Sunday, where he ate fried chicken, posed with staff, and high-fived a mascot.
He later said that Jollibee was planning to open “dozens of locations across New South Wales and Victoria”, and that the Jollibee chain would make “home-style Filipino dishes more accessible” to the approximately 400,000 Filipinos living in Australia.
@Jollibee is coming to Australia 🍗🇦🇺🇵🇭
A taste of home for so many Filipino-Australians, opening up right across Sydney and Melbourne.
Creating hundreds of jobs and bringing a little more Chickenjoy Down Under. https://t.co/8IBYltO2g7
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) November 15, 2026
“A taste of home for so many Filipino-Australians, opening up right across Sydney and Melbourne. Creating hundreds of jobs and bringing a little more Chickenjoy Down Under,” he wrote in the video caption.
But the post sparked backlash on social media, where many Aussies objected to Mr Albanese promoting a foreign fast-food giant while Australian small businesses are struggling to survive.
“So many Aussie businesses have failed because of you. This is a slap in the face,” wrote one upset Aussie.
“Maybe if Red Rooster had a Marrickville golf club membership you’d remember it existed,” wrote Freelancer founder Matt Barrie.
“Our prime minister is advertising foreign business in Australia while scalping local Australian business. What kickbacks did you sell yourself out for this. Lifetime supply of chicken?” asked another.
“Publicly celebrates a multimillion dollar franchise opening while systematically crushing Australian small businesses at a record rate. Gross,” another said.
Others objected to Mr Albanese’s promotion of multiculturalism, and use of the term “Filipino-Australian”.
“I thought home was Australia? If it’s not, what are they doing here?” asked journalist Fred Pawle.
“There is no such thing as Filipino-Australians. Stop attacking our sovereignty,” said another X user.
Jollibee said it was planning to open 35 stores in Australia over the next five years, with the first planned for Campbelltown in south-west Sydney, which would create 900 jobs and an investment of $65 million.
Mr Albanese’s office said that Jollibee “operates a network of more than 1,600 stores across 17 countries and is emblematic of Filipino culture and values including family ties, friendship and joy”.
“Jollibee is a familiar name for many Filipino Australians, and we want to see more businesses choose Australia as a place to grow and succeed,” Mr Albanese.
“I welcome investment that supports Australian jobs and strengthens our economic partnerships.
“Food brings people together, and Jollibee is a great example of the cultural connections that strengthen our relationship with the Philippines.”
Header image: Left, right, Mr Albanese at the Jollibee restaurant in Manila (PMO).
