>
Coles is ‘proud’ of its Acknowledgement of Country on receipts – even though Indigenous elders say it’s completely unnecessary
- Coles slammed for their use of Acknowledgement of Country on receipts
- Wurundjeri elder Ian Hunter said the Acknowledgement was ‘unnecessary’
- Coles is the largest private sector employer of Indigenous Australians
<!–
<!–
<!–<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
Coles has been criticised by Indigenous leaders after an eagle-eyed shopper noticed the Acknowledgement of Country printed on their receipt.
Printed near the bottom of the receipt, the statement read, ‘Coles Group acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia. We recognise their strength and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.’
‘Coles Group extends that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and recognise their rich cultures and consulting connection to land and waters,’ it added.
Wurundjeri elder Ian Hunter told the Herald Sun that Coles’ use of the Acknowledgement of Country was ‘unnecessary.’
‘For it to have more meaning it would be better for Coles to localise the message on receipts for specific areas, for example Coles in Darebin could acknowledge the Woiwurrung people,’ Mr Hunter said.
‘The Acknowledgement of Country shouldn’t be taken lightly…I’m getting fed up with this, it’s a real overreach.’
The Acknowledgement of Country is printed at the bottom of Coles’ receipts
Coles is the largest private sector employer of Indigenous Australians, with more than 4,400 people on staff
In a statement, Coles said it was ‘proud’ to have the Acknowledgement of Country on its receipts.
‘With more than 2500 stores nationally and as one of Australia’s largest employers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Coles Group is proud to include an Acknowledgement of Country on our receipts,’ the supermarket giant said.
‘We work hard to create opportunities for Indigenous peoples, organisations, communities and customers to engage with our business and continue to increase understanding, value and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, knowledge and rights.’
Coles established its first ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Plan’ 10 years ago.
The annual plan sets out the supermarket’s ‘vision to reflect the communities (Coles) serve by providing more opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, organisations, communities and customers to engage with the business’.
Coles has more than 4,400 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander team members, and is the largest private sector employer of Indigenous Australians in the country.
The Acknowledgement of Country comes after Channel 9’s ‘The Block’ and Channel 10’s ‘The Masked Singer’ both recently included an Acknowledgement of Country.