Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has called on Australians to boycott Woolworths after the supermarket revealed it would no longer sell Australia Day merchandise.
Mr Dutton made the bold step of ‘advising [Australians] very strongly to take your business elsewhere’, describing the controversial decision as ‘an outrage’.
‘It’s up to customers whether they want to go in and buy the product or not… I think people should boycott Woolworths.’
Australia’s largest supermarket, which also owns Big W, confirmed on Wednesday that any items related to January 26 celebrations will not be stocked on shelves.
A spokesperson claimed demand was no longer there for merchandise, but Mr Dutton said CEO Brad Banducci appeared to be trying to ‘follow in the mould of Alan Joyce’ and impress Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Mr Joyce stepped aside as CEO of Qantas in 2023 amid several controversies, including questions about his close relationship with the PM and strongly advocating for a Yes vote in the Voice to Parliament referendum.
For many First Nations people, Australia Day is regarded as ‘Invasion Day’ or the ‘Day of Mourning’ (pictured, people at a rally against the Voice to Parliament in September)
‘Until we get common sense out of a company like Woolworths, I don’t think they should be supported by the public,’ Mr Dutton said.
‘As we saw with Alan Joyce and Qantas, it seems these CEO’s are out to try and please the Prime Minister with these stupid decisions, and it doesn’t make sense to me.
‘For Woolworths to start taking political positions to oppose Australia Day… is against the national spirit. I think most Australians just want to go to Woolies, get groceries at the cheapest possible price because most are struggling to pay the bill when they get to the checkout at the moment.’
Mr Dutton called on Mr Banducci to step up and reverse the Australia Day merchandise ban, calling it a ‘bad call’.
Mr Dutton said Woolworths was one of a group of big businesses which advocated in favour of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
The supermarket chain was criticised for its decision and analysts believe corporate support for the Yes campaign contributed to the referendum being soundly defeated in all Australian states.
Voice critic Matthew Sheahan, who led the No campaign, told Daily Mail Australia Woolworths is ‘adding insult to injury’ by removing Australia Day merchandise from shelves after the Voice loss.
‘When are the corporate elites, who run companies like Woolies, going to learn their lesson?’ he asked.
‘Instead of easing the cost of living pressure on Aussies, Woolworths sunk $1.55 million into the losing Yes campaign.
‘Now they’re adding insult to injury.’
Mr Sheahan is now campaigning for Australia Day to be ‘protected by law’.
Woolworths on Wednesday confirmed no additional Australia Day-themed merch would be sold in its supermarkets or Big W stores for this year’s public holiday.
‘While Australian flags are sold within BIG W all year round, we don’t have any additional themed merchandise available to purchase in-store in our Supermarkets or BIG W ahead of Australia Day,’ a spokesperson said.
‘We know many people like to use this day as a time to get together and we offer a huge variety of products to help customers mark the day as they choose.’
Woolworths joins Kmart in no longer stocking the items, with the discount retailer making a similar announcement in 2023.
The retailer said that ‘broader discussions about what January 26 means to different parts of the community’ played a role in the decision