As the sun rises on another Australia Day, the conversation around how we celebrate our national holiday continues to evolve, with major brands and the public alike weighing in on the debate. In a recent turn of events, Woolworths, one of Australia’s leading supermarket chains, has made a significant U-turn on its stance regarding Australia Day merchandise.
The initial decision by Woolworths to scale back on selling Australia Day-themed items in 2024 was met with a wave of backlash from the community and political figures. The supermarket cited ‘declining sales’ as the reason for the change, but the public response was clear: Australians were not ready to let go of their traditional celebratory items.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Woolworths confirmed that in 2025, both Woolworths and Big W stores will feature a ‘Perfect for Australia Day’ section, with a focus on food. Additionally, Australian flags, which were the only Australia Day item previously available in-store, will now be accessible in the general merchandise section. However, for those looking to purchase Australian flag-branded items, a trip online to Woolworths’ marketplace sellers My Deal, BIG W Market, and Everyday Market will be necessary.
The sentiment among Australians seems to be one of frustration towards corporations attempting to dictate the terms of cultural celebrations. Media commentator Prue MacSween voiced this sentiment, expressing that Australians are ‘sick of it’ when it comes to being told how to live their lives by companies. She questioned the authority of corporations to impose their views on the public, highlighting a growing weariness with being labelled or judged based on societal or political expectations.
Nationals leader David Littleproud echoed this sentiment, suggesting that Woolworths has ‘learned the hard way’ that Australians resist being instructed on moral grounds by a major corporation. He emphasised the pride Australians have in their country and the maturity to acknowledge past mistakes without erasing history.
In response to the public outcry, Woolworths has stated that they will be celebrating Australia Day ‘as a team’ and with customers, acknowledging the desire for more involvement in the holiday. A spokesperson for the company assured that customers would see dedicated sections for Australia Day in their supermarkets and Big W stores and that Aussie-made flags would be available for sale in-store, with a broader range of themed merchandise offered online.
What are your thoughts on the commercialisation of Australia Day? Should corporations influence how we celebrate? And what does Australia Day mean to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Frankly, I would venture more of us are sick of being told how to how we want to live our lives by the likes of Prue MacSween and David Littleproud than want instant landfill items emblazoned with the national flag, such as it is with a quarter of it being someone else’s flag anyhow.
I think that our flag is an excellent representation of our heritage, the British influence in the Union Jack, but also our future – the stars, as per the Southern Cross.
Apparently Paul Hogan made a famous comment about our flag. Having a go at the Poms one day, as he did so well, he said that they don’t even have their own flag, just that bit they pinched out of the corner of ours!
It is time that corporations and the public service, who appear to be full of woke w****rs, keep out of our affairs. If the board of Woolworths or any other corporation wants to make decisions such as the past Australia Day boondoggle, then they can apply the decisions to themselves only, not to the rest of us.
We are all proud to be Australians and the Australian flag should be front and centre.
Wokeness is dead and it’s good to see Woolies have taken notice that real Australians want merchandise to celebrate with.
As with America,national pride is returning to Australia.
Woolies have listened to last years sentiments and provided choice for customers celebrating Australia Day.
Our flag unites people who want to see Australia succeed.
Elections can’t come soon enough and as with the voice Albo and his ABC are in for a big shock in WA