Woolworths will no longer sell Australia Day products, following calls for a boycott over Australia Day memorabilia from opposition leader Peter Dutton. Labor MP Julian Hill has criticized Dutton, accusing him of sparking a “stupid culture war” with the supermarket. He expressed his personal views of Dutton in a social media post, which has since generated significant backlash.
This criticism of Dutton was echoed by other Labor politicians, including Agriculture Minister Murray Watt, who accused him of always focusing on a culture war rather than more important issues. Woolworths and Aldi have decided to stop stocking Australian-themed goods this year, with Woolworths citing a decline in demand for the products and the “broader discussion” about what Australia Day means to Indigenous people. Coles, however, has announced its intention to continue to stock a range of Australia Day merchandise.
In response to Woolworths’ decision, Dutton has called on consumers to boycott the supermarket, urging them to shop at alternative chains such as Coles or Aldi. He has also suggested that companies like Woolworths should focus on their business models rather than politics. Woolworths, a prominent supporter of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, has been accused of price gouging amid record profits. The Australian government has announced a review into the conduct of large supermarket retailers and has suggested that the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct could become mandated by law if not correctly followed.