Labor MP Julian Hill has criticised Opposition Leader Peter Dutton over the latter’s position on supermarket giant Woolworths’ decision to stop selling Australia Day products.
“Some people enter January with positive resolutions. Exercise. A diet. A few little changes to make life a bit better,” Mr. Hill wrote.
“Peter Dutton has decided to bring in the New Year by starting a stupid culture war with a supermarket over what colour hats they stock. What a flog.”
Mr. Hill then doubled down with his personal views on Mr. Dutton, writing, “He’s basically a cooker” three hours later.
His comments were met with backlash with the top response being, “So much for Labour bringing integrity back.” Another social media user called his professional conduct into question, writing, “I love having such mature politicians.”
Mr. Hill was not the only Labor politician accusing Mr. Dutton of sparking national division.
Agriculture Minister Murray Watt has also claimed Mr. Dutton was “always focused on a culture war,” maintaining that his government was focused on more important issues like inflation.
“Our government is focused on the prices that supermarkets charge; Peter Dutton is focused on the kind of thongs that supermarkets sell.”
Woolworth’s Decision
On Jan. 10, Woolworths announced it would cease stocking any Australian-themed items this year, with a company spokesperson citing a decline in demand and the “broader discussion” about what Australia Day means to Indigenous people—with some considering it an “invasion” of the country.Australia’s third largest supermarket chain, Aldi, on Jan. 11 announced it follow Woolworth’s decision, with the retailer this year ending its annual tradition of stocking a wide range of Australian-themed goods in its Australia Day Special Buys catalogue.
Both retail giants now join K-Mart, who took Australia Day items off their shelves last year.
Coles, however, has announced its intention to continue to stock a variety of Australia Day merchandise indefinitely.
Mr. Dutton has declared his condemnation of Woolworths’ decision, calling on consumers to boycott the supermarket.
“I would advise very strongly to take your business elsewhere, to go to IGA or Coles or Aldi. I think until we get common sense out of a company like Woolworths, I don’t think they should be supported by the public,” told 2GB Radio on Jan. 11.
Mr. Dutton further suggested companies like Woolworths should focus on their business models rather than politics.
“As we saw with Alan Joyce and Qantas, it seems that these CEOs are out to try and please the prime minister with these stupid decisions,” he said.
“It’s not what the customers or their employees want. For Woolworths to start taking political positions in opposing Australia Day is against the national interest, the national spirit. Most Australians just want to go to Woolies and get groceries at the cheapest possible prices.”
Woolworths was a prominent supporter of the Albanese government’s campaign for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in 2023.
CEO Brad Banducci, who boasted about employing 4,500 Indigenous Australians at the time, likened The Voice to the First Nations Advisory Board installed in the company.
Price Gouging Accusations
Its decision to abstain from Australia Day is not the only thing Woolworths is currently being admonished for.Amid unprecedented levels of inflation and a nationwide cost-of-living crisis, Woolworths along with other Australian supermarket giants continue to report record profits.
In FY 23, Woolworths Group recorded a total net profit after tax of $1.72 billion, a 14.7 percent increase on FY 22. The conglomerate’s food sales alone experienced sustained yearly increases from 2016 to 2023.
The situation has caught the eye of the Albanese government who in Oct. 2023 announced a review into the conduct of large supermarket retailers.
On Jan. 5, Queensland Premier Steven Miles wrote a letter to the chief executives of Coles, Woolworths, IGA, and Aldi demanding they meet with him to address a calibrated response to cost-of-living pressures.
Prime Minister Albanese himself on Jan. 11 issued a warning to supermarket giants that the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct, which is currently voluntary, may become mandated by law if not followed correctly.
