Woolworths is dumping all Australia Day merchandise from stores nationally
Woolworths will no longer sell Australia Day merchandise.
The supermarket giant, which also owns Big W stores, confirmed in a statement that all items associated with the January 26 celebration will not be on shelves.
“Over recent years, demand for Australia Day merchandise from our stores has gradually decreased. At the same time, there has been a broader discussion about January 26 and what it means for different parts of the community.”
The retailer added: ‘We know that many people like to use this day as a time to come together and we are offering a wide variety of products to help customers celebrate the day as they choose.
“Woolworths and BIG W celebrate the best of Australia every day, and we are proud to support the farmers, producers and suppliers who work with us.”
Supermarket giant Woolworths has removed Australia Day merchandise from its shelves
The retailer said “broader discussions about what January 26 means for different parts of the community” played a role in the decision
Coles will continue to sell Australia Day merchandise.
“We are stocking a small range of Australian-themed summer items throughout January, which are popular with our customers for sporting events such as cricket and tennis, as well as the Australia Day weekend,” the spokesperson said.
Australia Day, celebrated every year on January 26, marks the landing of the First Fleet in 1788 when the first Governor of the British colony of New South Wales, Arthur Philip, hoisted the Union Jack at Sydney Cove.
But for many First Nations people it is considered “Invasion Day” or the “Day of Mourning.”
The growing unrest around the national day is perhaps best summed up by the government-owned National Australia Day Council.
“For some, Australia Day is a day to celebrate all the opportunities that life in a free, multicultural society offers,” it wrote in its 2022 annual report.
“For others, it’s an opportunity to reflect on their own citizenship and what it means to be Australian. And for many, January 26 is a day of sadness, mourning and memory of colonization.’
More to come