Woolworths double standard called out amid Australia Day debate

A young Aussie has warned Australia Day ‘will cease to exist’ in a few year’s time if big corporations refuse to acknowledge the national holiday.

Conservative social commentator Carla Efstratiou slammed Woolworths, which also owns Big W, after the supermarket giant revealed it will not sell Australia Day merchandise nationwide due to a ‘decline in demand’.

It comes after Ms Efstratiou highlighted a ‘double standard’ when Woolworths  stores displayed ‘Happy Diwali’ signage in November while the prominence of Australia Day had diminished in its supermarkets over the years.

‘Australia Day is being phased out by big corporations and eventually by the government,’ she claimed.

‘(Woolworths) say it’s because there’s been a steady decrease in demand, but make no mistake, this is entirely thought through, it’s entirely planned.

‘Australia Day will cease to exist in a few years.’

Woolworths said in a statement on Wednesday there had been a ‘gradual decline in demand’ for Australia Day merchandise in recent years.

‘At the same time, there’s been broader discussion about 26 January and what it means to different parts of the community,’ the statement read.

But Ms Efstratiou said she predicted the move in November when Woolworths celebrated Diwali, India’s biggest and most important holiday of the year.

‘So (Woolworths) is okay with celebrating India’s biggest religious celebration, and I wholeheartedly support that,’ she said at the time.

‘But God forbid we put an Australian flag up 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 largest holidays of the year – and of course, we’re in Australia.

‘Tell me how that makes sense!’

A young Aussie has warned Australia Day ‘will cease to exist’ in just a few years time if big corporations refuse to celebrate the national holiday

The move by Woolworths has angered several high-profile Australians.

Millionaire businessman Dick Smith said ‘we should always celebrate that day because it’s the start of modern Australia’.

‘I am a patriotic Australian and I’m disappointed they have made that decision,’ he told Newscorp.

Acting NSW Opposition leader Natalie Ward said ‘Australians are entitled to be proud of Australia Day as our national day, and not made to feel ashamed to celebrate (it)’. 

Premier Chris Minns said the decision ‘came as a surprise to me’.

‘In 2024, I would’ve thought there was enough demand from customers for Australia Day products,’ he said.

‘It seems odd not to offer your customers a few green and gold thongs or southern cross stubby holders as Australians take a well-earned day off after a tough couple of years.’

Aussies on social media were divided.

Do you agree with Woolworths removing Australia Day items?

‘I have my Aussie flags and will be flying them on Australia Day,’ 

‘Australia Day is 26th January end of story. Don’t like it stay home and have a sleep for the day,’ a second commented. 

A third shared: ‘It’s funny because 90% of Australians celebrate Australia Day and being a Friday. It’s gonna be even bigger but because the minority of white people are against at woollies decide to follow.’

‘I’m gonna celebrate it more and more every year! I refuse to give in to the woke bull****…’ a fourth said. 

However, others disagreed. 

‘Doesn’t Australia day celebrate genocide? Who wants to celebrate that?’ one said. 

‘Who is this affecting? Does anyone actually celebrate the day? Like sure it’s a day off but is anyone really celebrating?’ a second commented. 

‘Mostly bogans buy that c***,’ a third wrote. 

Ms Efstratiou (pictured) said she had predicted the move after Woolworths displayed Happy Diwali signage in stores to celebrate the Indian holiday in November

A group of young Aussies are pictured 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 entertaining merchandise throughout January which is popular with our customers for sporting events such as the cricket and tennis, as well as for the Australia Day weekend,’ a Coles spokesperson said.

Australia Day, observed each 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 regarded as ‘Invasion Day’ or the ‘Day of Mourning’.

The growing uneasiness around the national holiday 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 provided by living in a free, multicultural society,’ it wrote in its 2022 annual report.

‘For others it is a chance to reflect on their own citizenship and what it means to be Australian. And for many, 26 January represents a day of sadness, mourning and reminder of colonisation.’

The retailer said that ‘broader discussions about what January 26 means to different parts of the community’ played a role in the decision

For many First Nations people, Australia Day is regarded as ‘Invasion Day’ or the ‘Day of Mourning’ (pictured, people at a rally against the Voice to Parliament in September)

It comes as many local councils across the country have scrapped Australia Day celebrations as the date becomes increasingly controversial.

In December, Anthony Albanese’s High Commissioner to the UK jettisoned his annual Australia Day fundraising event citing ‘cultural sensitivities’.

In recent years Invasion Day protests have overshadowed any festivities.

Thousands have turned out at rallies in major cities demanding the date be changed.

Large protests are also expected this year after the referendum to enshrine an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in the constitution was voted down in October.