‘Woke’ Woolworths confirms decision to scrap Australia Day merch claiming decline in demand despite support for failed Voice

Woolworths and Big W have confirmed the move to drop all Australia Day merchandise in 2024, apart from the flag which is sold all year round, due to a decline in demand, despite its “woke” track record.

In a statement, a Woolworths spokesperson said there had been a “gradual decline in demand for Australia Day merchandise” from its stores over recent years.

However, the retail giant also conceded the decision was in part due to a “broader discussion about January 26 and what it means to different parts of the community”.

Woolworths Group, which also owns Big W and liquor store BWS, openly supported the “Yes” campaign leading up to the Voice referendum.

“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,” the spokesperson said.

“Woolworths and Big W celebrate the best of Australia every day, and we’re proud to support the farmers, producers, and suppliers who work with us.”

Despite the move, staff members who are rostered on still have the option to take the day off work on January 26, as Australia Day is still a public holiday.

The Woolworths Group’s platform My Deal stocks Australia themed products, however they are only available through third party online retailers.

The growing resent towards Australia Day was compounded by the failed Voice referendum and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s “slippery policy change” which allowed at least 81 councils to axe their citizenship ceremonies on January 26.

On the Bolt Report on Wednesday, Andrew Bolt said Woolworths “should’ve learned a lesson” after its support for the Voice.

Bolt spoke with The Australian’s media writer Sophie Elsworth who asked whether the company noticed that “a majority of Australians voted ‘No’ to the Voice?”.

“There are a lot of Australians who do want to celebrate Australia Day, so what’s the harm in putting a few items on a shelf and letting us as the shoppers make the decisions whether we want to buy some Australia day merchandise or not?” Ms Elsworth said.

Sydney Mayor Clover Moore has said January 26 is a “painful” day for many, even claiming “the date of national celebration should not be on Invasion Day.”

Kmart, a subsidiary of Wesfarmers which dropped $2 million on the “Yes” campaign, made the same decision in 2023 to scrap Australia Day merchandise from its stores.

Sky News Australia contributor Prue MacSween slammed Woolworths’s decision and called on people with a differing opinion to vote with their dollar and demonstrate how “out of step they are with mainstream Aussies”.

Users on X, formerly Twitter, shared MacSween’s sentiment to boycott Woolworths, with one person suggesting to “boycott/stop buying from Woolworths from today until after Jan 26… make them pay the price”.

Another simply wrote: “This country gets more woke and pathetic every day.”

While a third stated “Go woke… go broke”.

Meanwhile others praised the move, saying there will be less rubbish and waste, while the plastic products weren’t “even Australian made, so why the outrage?”

Though the tone was clear: “Coles has always been better”.