Woolworths double standard called out amid Australia Day debate
A young Australian has warned that Australia Day will ‘cease to exist’ in a few years if major companies refuse to recognize the national holiday.
Her comments came after Woolworths, which also owns Big W, shocked the country after revealing it will not sell Australia Day merchandise this year due to declining demand.
“There has been a gradual decline in demand for Australia Day merchandise from our stores over recent years,” the supermarket giant said in a statement. “At the same time, there has been a broader discussion about January 26 and what it means for different parts of the community.”
Carla Efstratiou, a conservative social commentator, said she had predicted the move after the supermarket put up Happy Diwali signs in stores last November to celebrate the Indian holiday.
“Australia Day is being phased out by major corporations and ultimately by the government,” she claimed.
Ms Efstratiou said: ‘They say this is because demand has steadily declined, but make no mistake, this has been fully thought out and fully planned.
“Australia Day will cease to exist in a few years.”
Ms Efstratiou previously highlighted a “double standard” at Woolworths, noting the celebration of Diwali contrasted with the minimal recognition of Australia Day.
Signs at the supermarket commemorated Diwali, the biggest and most important holiday of the year in India, considered as important to Hindus as Christmas is to Christians.
“So (Woolworths) is okay with celebrating India’s largest religious festival, and I wholeheartedly support that,” she said.
But God forbid we put up an Australian flag or say ‘Happy Australia Day’ on January 26.
“So we can celebrate India’s biggest holiday of the year, but we can’t celebrate one of Australia’s biggest holidays of the year – and of course we’re in Australia.
“Tell me how that makes sense!”
A young Australian has warned that Australia Day will ‘cease to exist’ within a few years if major companies refuse to celebrate the national holiday
The move has angered several high-profile Australians.
Millionaire businessman Dick Smith said: ‘We should always celebrate that day because it is the beginning of modern Australia.’
“I’m a patriotic Australian and I’m disappointed they made that decision,” he told Newscorp.
Acting NSW Opposition Leader Natalie Ward said: “Australians have the right to be proud of Australia Day as our national holiday, and should not be ashamed of celebrating (it).”
Prime Minister Chris Minns said the decision “came as a surprise to me.”
“By 2024, I would have thought there was sufficient customer demand for Australia Day products,” he said.
“It seems strange not to be offering your customers a pair of green and gold thongs or southern crossbreed holders when Australians are taking a well-deserved day off after a tough few years.”
Aussies on social media were divided.
‘I have my Australian flags and will fly them on Australia Day’
‘Australia Day is January 26, end of story. I don’t like staying home and sleeping for the day,” a second commented.
A third said: ‘It’s funny because 90% of Australians celebrate Australia Day and it’s a Friday. It gets bigger, but because the minority of white people are against Woollies, they decide to follow.”
‘I’m going to celebrate it more and more every year! I refuse to give in to the woke bull****…” said a fourth.
However, others disagreed.
‘Doesn’t Australia Day celebrate genocide? Who wants to celebrate that?’ said one.
‘Who is affected by this? Does anyone actually celebrate this day? I’m sure it’s a day off, but is anyone really celebrating?’ a second commented.
“Usually bogans buy those motherfuckers,” a third wrote.
Ms Efstratiou (pictured) said she had predicted the move after Woolworths displayed Happy Diwali signs in stores to celebrate the Indian holiday in November
The photo shows a group of young Aussies celebrating Australia Day on the Gold Coast
Kmart made a similar announcement in 2023, but Coles will continue to sell a ‘small range’ of 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,” a Coles 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.’
The retailer said “broader discussions about what January 26 means for different parts of the community” played a role in the decision
For many First Nations people, Australia Day is considered ‘Invasion Day’ or the ‘Day of Mourning’ (photo: people at a rally against the Voice to Parliament in September)
It comes as many councils across the country have scrapped Australia Day celebrations as the date becomes increasingly controversial.
In December, Anthony Albanese’s High Commissioner to Britain scrapped his annual Australia Day fundraising event, citing “cultural sensitivities.”
In recent years, the Invasion Day protests have overshadowed all festivities.
Thousands of people showed up at rallies in major cities demanding the date be changed.
Major protests are also expected this year after the referendum to enshrine the voice of indigenous people in parliament in the constitution was rejected in October.