This startling Bunnings moment sparks a nationwide ‘un-Australian’ debate

There are few things more quintessentially Australian than the humble Bunnings sausage sizzle. It’s a rite of passage, a weekend tradition, and, for many, the only reason to accompany a partner to the hardware store. 

Whether you’re a fan of onions on top or underneath, or you’re a purist who insists on white bread over a bun, we can all agree: the Bunnings snag is sacred. 

But what happens when this beloved tradition is turned on its head? That’s exactly what happened to Lauren, a self-confessed sausage sizzle enthusiast, who recently took to social media to share her shock and dismay after being handed—brace yourselves—a chicken sausage at her local Bunnings.

Yes, you read that right. Not a beef or pork snag, but a chicken sausage. For Lauren, this was nothing short of ‘unconstitutional’—her words, not ours! 

Her video, set to the viral social media tune ‘That Was Rude’, quickly struck a chord with fellow Aussies, racking up comments from sizzle supporters far and wide.

‘Thoughts and prayers,’ one commenter offered, tongue firmly in cheek. ‘You might be entitled to compensation,’ joked another. 

The consensus? This was, in the words of one passionate fan, ‘un-Australian’.

The outrage didn’t stop there. ‘Chicken should never be a sausage, especially at Bunnings,’ declared one disappointed devotee. 

Others wondered aloud if Lauren should ‘seek legal counsel’ or even ‘call the police’. The comments section became a hilarious melting pot of mock outrage, with one person repeatedly insisting the act was ‘ILLEGAL’.

But as the debate sizzled on, a more practical question emerged: who actually decides what kind of sausages are served at Bunnings? Is there a secret sausage code? Should there be?

Here’s the snag: every week, different community groups—from footy clubs to school P&Cs—take over the Bunnings BBQ to raise funds for their cause. Bunnings supplies the BBQ and gas, but the volunteers do the rest. 

According to the official guidelines, groups must provide ‘sausages’, but there’s no rule about what kind. So, whether you’re getting a classic beef snag, a chicken sausage, or even a vegan alternative, it all depends on who’s manning the tongs that day.

And with the cost of running a sausage sizzle topping $1000 for consumables alone (yes, you read that right!), it’s no wonder some groups opt for whatever sausages are cheapest or have been donated. 

Credit: Lauren Richter / TikTok

As Kirsten Witney, a P&C president in Perth, explained, her group spends $350 on sausages alone for a single event, and they’re always on the lookout for deals or freebies from local butchers and supermarkets.

This means that, despite the $3.50 price tag being the same across the country, not all Bunnings sausage sizzles are created equal. 

Some customers have reported being surprised with vegan sausages, while others have lamented the use of ‘the cheapest money could buy’ or ‘frozen packed onions’. For some, these variations are a fun surprise; for others, they’re a step too far from tradition.

But perhaps that’s the beauty of the Bunnings sausage sizzle: it’s a reflection of the community, in all its diversity and resourcefulness. 

Whether you’re a beef, chicken, or vegan sausage fan, the real point is that you’re supporting a good cause—and maybe having a laugh along the way.

So, next time you’re queuing up for your weekend snag, remember: you might not always get what you expect, but you’re always helping out your local community. And if you do end up with a chicken sausage, well, at least you’ll have a story to tell!

Have you ever had a surprise at a Bunnings sausage sizzle? Do you think there should be a ‘sausage standard’, or is variety the spice of life? Share your thoughts—and your best sausage sizzle stories—in the comments below!

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