This whole process of corporate Australia pandering to the woke community is getting totally out of hand
Woolworths Dumps Australia Day Merchandise
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As long as Australia Day stays as a public holiday, I don’t care what happens lol.
Shifted to the last Friday in January
All those outraged can still get their Nationalistic Chinese Aussie tat at cheap shops all around the country, don't worry!
If you are against it. Vote with your feet and stop using Woolies, just go to Coles. Mouthing off, for or against will achieve nothing but shareholders losing their dividend will
Is there any other country where the national day is the day the imperialists started a colony? Most former colonies have independence (from the imperialists) day as the national day.
To be really clear, is there any other country where the national day is the day the imperialists started a PENAL colony? It truly bamboozles me that anyone would want that as their national day!
Papua New Guinea - 16 September - Independence from Australia in 1975
Maybe we could learn from PNG. The worst thing that ever happened to the country, but they go all out in celebrating the day. It's a classic example of a celebration that should be on a different day with a different title, but they couldn't care less.
Who buys merch for Australia Day anyway?
Heaps of people used to have flags on their cars etc, but now probably concerned that someone will vandalise them because it's become a political issue.
I know people that used to but now don't, I might have to do a survey.because it's become a political issue.
Cronulla riots did far more to harm how people view the parading of the flag imo
Australians.
Certain Australians.
I believe their called citizens.
@infinite: Doesn’t negate my point. Not all citizens buty the tat and those buying the tat don’t have to be citizens.
I think maybe the issue is with china. The factories are closing and many buyers/countries are nolonger buying from china.
They probably are unable to source manufacturing or a good price.
However, if they aren't going to India, Vietnam etc that have now taken on the Chinese manufacturing. Chinese manufacturers have moved to India, Vietnam, Taiwan..
They are definitely cancelling the Australia day merch.OP is an idiot to suggest that this decision by Woolies isn't motivated solely by profits.
As for moving the date I don't really understand the push back. Why not move the date to a day that all Australians can feel comfortable celebrating? Not wanting to celebrate a day that marks the beginning of an attempted genocide of your people doesn't sound too unreasonable to me?
The entire point of Australia Day is to get a day off work. It always amazes me how the anti-woke crowd always finds a way to get butt hurt over everything. All while calling everyone else snowflakes, how ironic.
Because Woolies always make public announcements when they discontinue a product, and it ranks in news feeds and forums??
I reacted the same way as OP, except I'm too lazy to actually read the news articles or the statement, or start a discussion.
I'm happy to be an idiot in your opinion.
Woolies are discontinuing the line and announcing it because they think it will help earn more profits for shareholders. The fact that its partially or wholly a marketing exercise doesn't change that fact.
You and the OP complaining like its some sort of misguided altruistic move is idiotic
Less than 1% of people here would have bought Australia Day merch from Woolies prior to 26th Jan, with 40% buying something after it’s heavily discounted to below Woolies cost price to clear the junk
There’s woke, then there’s the other side which is people who pretend to be outraged by the woke without walking the walk
"Less than 1% of people here" That's because the majority of people on this forum are socialist lefties who vote Labor, Greens and Teals no matter what. They also want everything for free.
What merch did you buy?
Going to buy at Coles. Easy.
I rather buy stuff from China (Cheaper) than those labelled "Proudly owned overpriced product".
At first, "woke capitalism" aka "rainbow capitalism" doesn't make sense. Capitalism is supposed to be right-wing, and wokism left-wing. However, people aren't viewing things correctly.
Capitalism is actually a far left ideology because it produces constant, incessant change. Left wing = progressivism, changing everything. Right wing is conservationism, homeostasis, resisting change. Communism societies are far more static and conservative than capitalist ones. The most conservative society would be a theocracy with a command economy.
Here's a quote from Woolies themselves:
"While Australian flags are sold within BIG W all year round, we don't have any additional themed merchandise available to purchase in-store in our supermarkets or BIG W ahead of Australia Day. There has been a gradual decline in demand for Australia Day merchandise from our stores over recent years."
They're not selling this junk because it's not lucrative. That's not woke capitalism, that's capitalism.
That's not capitalism, it's H/O marketing crap - looking for any unsubstantiated reason for a "woke" decision that panders to the minority.
It turns out that the minority in this case are the dwindling few who buy this crap.
How will my 'love it or leave it' bumper sticker ever live to tell the tale?
no option of "Don't care - its their choice". Certainly not on the side of woke, but bugs the crap out of me all the so called free speech, anti woke, anti cancel culture people that seem to think free speech is only ok if it is what they agree with.
agree, should be option for IDGAF.
Sales are down for these items, Woolies remove them. both sides are fired up
This woke bs is getting out of hand!
A shop I don't go to is not stocking items I was never going to buy.
And all because their so called data tells them that people have changed and it's not profitable to sell them.As a child growing up. All I ever wanted to see was a pile of unsold Australia Day merchandise being sold for 50c on the 27th, and now I can't experience this anymore.
What is this world coming to?
In previous years Bunnings would hang up Australian flags all over its stores. Not last year. Not one flag in sight on Australia Day.
We're one of the few countries in the world that has a massive cringe attack on the national holiday. It's weird. I can understand why, but it's still very strange.
you're strange
It's not strange. I certainly don't feel the suffering of our First Nations peoples is something I want to celebrate. Until we collectively accept the history of our country we won't be able to truly embrace and celebrate a national day. From what I've read here we are still a very long way off. Jan 26 is definitely doomed, it's just a matter of when it's changed, not if.
Can the OP explain the connection between a supermarket no longer stocking a loss making product line, and "woke community"?
It is partially economics and a perception is that it is also for political reason. Woolies/Big W supports The Voice. Majority of Australia voted No (which implies majority of Australians supports Australia Day as a holiday). Woolies refuse to sell Australia Day goods. Community gets pissed. I think this is the issue.
Majority of Australia voted No (which implies majority of Australians supports Australia Day as a holiday).
There is no way to know why someone voted against the voice
- Thought the voice was a UN agenda
- Thought the voice didn't go far enough/wouldn't do enough
- Thought there is no impact of colonisation on Aboriginal people
- Followed what the Liberal Party/Sky News/Rupert Murdoch said
- Coin came up tails.
Taking that to imply a stance on a semi-related topic seems risky.
Getting "pissed" at a company because they're not selling the stuff you want them to (despite probably never buying it) seems a pointless exercise.
Exactly. People who buy this stuff is a very small minority of the population.
Bet Dutton doesn’t buy it
I woke up this morning, am I the baddie?
I can never get my head around the fact that woke used to be trump supporters telling everyone to wake up sheeple, and now they're screaming that everyone else is woke 🙃
I hope the woolworths boycott works out for you.
Give it a day or so and youll be back with your pants down loving whatever wollies is dishing out.
Shoot me now the political correctness is out of control
None of the other states want to celebrate whilst its on Sydney day.
It's a good time of year, peak summer. Means people can get out and have a BBQ, have a swim enjoy everything Australian. Personally I don't mind if the date is changed, but it should stay in summer.
What's sad is that as a country we can't just have a celebration of what Australia is today. It shouldn't matter your race, background, how long you've been in the country, where your ancestors are from. Australia is what it is today, it's not THAT bad. It's sad that people have dragged down the celebration of Australia as country today to be synonymous with racism.
Because for Indigenous Australians, January 26th is a day that shouldn't be celebrated. If a large group of people takes issue with celebrating a day that shouldn't be celebrated, shouldn't there be a more inclusive day chosen? All those saying changing the date is dividing the country are effectively telling all indigenous Australians to just get over it.
I'm all for celebrating Australia Day, I just don't think January 26th is a good day to do it on.
Ok, so lets change it to a date when Aboriginals weren't oppressed, oh wait….
Keep Australia Day and add a reconciliation day like what Canberra has done. You can celebrate both things.
You don't think celebrating genocide is racist?
It's a BS reason BUT it wasn't selling. It was heavily discounted for months after. Wouldn't sell.
Honestly I support it just to see people like OP get mad over something that doesnt really make a big difference to anything.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s_-gRoTdKc
You might enjoy this. Fast forward doing a send up of Bruce Ruxton hosting Romper Room.
I couldn't care less about being able to buy shitty Australia themed stuff from a supermarket chain - the less money I give them the better in my view - but I detest what this represents & the statement they are making.
People chime with mUh fReE mArKeTs but you know damn well if Coles/Woolies came out and said "we're not doing Pride Month guys" or "we're not doing Diwali" it would be a huge uproar, because it means as a corporation and part of the fabric of what constitutes our collective society they are saying "we don't align with this, we don't agree with it". They wouldn't do it with Christmas or Easter because of how profitable they are but they'd cut that too if they could.
I find it repulsive that turds stamp a countries flag on thongs and underwear.
When you cant take your countries flag seriously, no will give a flying fark about Australia day. Least of all coles or woolworths.
Christmas and Easter are religious holidays celebrated worldwide as opposed to Australia day which is just a public holiday.
but I detest what this represents & the statement they are making.
I don't like it! Somebody make it stop!
Same mindset as punching a supporter of an opposing footy team.
I honestly had no idea they ever sold this stuff, and more importantly what would you even buy for australia day other than food and stuff for a BBQ?
"Coles has announced it will stock a variety of Australia Day merchandise amid backlash to a rival supermarket ditching the controversial products."
https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/coles-…
And that is their choice as well. It might spike for this year with the dog whistling but I, suspect, it is no more profitable for them either. However, I suspect if Coles dumps Australia Day merchandise they will do it quietly.
I swear an unwavering loyalty to coles this year who has done me and my right wing mates proud.
I swear to drop me dacks and let them have their way every time i shop there.
Coles, coles,coles, oi, oi, oi !!!
Real patriots bleed coles!I also note they are talking about a small range of products that are also used for sporting events. However, if it does prove to be profitable then more power to them. I have Coles shares as well. If they can sell tat to people in a “cost of living crises” time then have at it.
In all honesty Australia Day should be January 1st. We become a Federated country on the 1st of January, 1901.
Interestingly enough the referendum didn’t get the requisite numbers but the politicians made it happen anyway.
https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/history-of-parl…
The main reason we aren’t celebrating on that day is because we already have a public holiday. I bet if it was any other “non public holiday” day it would already be in place.
that would mean one less public holiday
Just give us all an extra sick day every year.
That would be the Australian thing to do.I'm all for it, the same people who complain about Australia day on the 26th will be the same people who complain that they no longer get their public holiday.
Actually it probably won’t be. The people who want it to be the 26th would be complaining the loudest.
My vote is for the last Friday of every January..
Old man yells at cloud.jpg
@Ocker you have guts posting such forum topics on a site mainly occupied by the socialist left.
You have clearly not been on this forum long…
Nope, he's basically right - this site is dominated by those on the left who want all the fruit from the socialist magic money tree and new Australians who have little or no allegiance to Australia. One thing in common is that we all like a bargain, but that's about it.
This website seems to be majority conservative. Maybe not an overwhelming majority, but public opinion here is pretty predictable.
new Australians who have little or no allegiance to Australia
What exactly have you done to show "allegiance to Australia".
My brother, if we were bombed by a foreign adversary, you'd be cowering in an underground bunker with everyone else. Don't you get tired of the "macho" act?
What an absolute joke of a post. Do they teach you this nonsense on the rightwing websites you normally frequent? This site is loaded with conservatives not socialists. So allegiance to Australia is shown by forcing a private industry to buy overseas tat to try to sell at inflated prices to gullible idiots? It is a pretty pathetic view of what Australia stands for. Learn some logic.
Its a slippery slope, next will be thongs followed by stubbie coolers and wife beaters
is it pandering to the "woke" community? I suspect its purely an economical decision - if it was profitable to sell the crappy stubby holders and plastic shit they would keep doing it.. I suspect its manufactured bullshit to get brownie points. Town hall in Sydney used to be decorated every Christmas along with other decorations around Sydney, then there was a flood of crap in the media that non Christians and Muslims were offended by the decorations. Then it all stopped along with the shop front decorations in the name of inclusivity but was really about cost cutting.
If you asked Muslims or non Christians, they loved the celebrations and were not offended - Same in this situation, most likely just economic decision spun to be listening to the "community vibe".
Exactly. Dutton is the POS making this into a culture war. It's the only way captain potato head and his party are going to get anywhere cause he knows he's in over his head with a drowning party.
The crap doesn't sell and many people don't feel very patriotic over the date these days.
Change the date to a day everyone can enjoy, guarantee it will be a long weekend every year and most people will be happy.. sick of the same narrative every year.
This. Some people are just interested in conflict and not in resolution.
@Marrk Change your birthday first, I'm sure someone will find a way to be offended by the date it's on.
I don't think @Marrk's birthday celebrates a day that a colonial power first established a permanent settlement here, but I could be wrong.
January 26th is hardly a date to be sentimental about. My birthday is unfortunately not celebrated by a significant percentage of the country.
This is a tragedy, they should make it public holiday, so everyone will can celebrate @Marrk! 🎉
Our souvenirs and Australia Day merchandise, all made in China. We literally took 'cutting down local manufacturing' to next level.
Most of us here are migrants or our parents are migrants. We naturally don't give a hood and only enjoy the public holidays. That's the problem with a country that takes so many migrants every year. Slowly we erode the culture.
And as if by clockwork Dutton has come out to call for a boycott. Shocking.
So he doesn’t believe in a free market then? Not surprised. Maybe he has shares in China tat factories.
Also the more he does this the less likely he is to get the seats back from the Teal candidates. The LNP guys are just embarrassing.
Hard to see a path forward for the Coalition, how to win back the teals while keeping the Nats happy? I expect they'll be busy shooting themselves in the foot for a while…
That's how you know this manufactured outrage is targeted at the double digit IQ's occupying this site
People who are being egged on by News Corp realise the Patriarch abandoned his Australian citizenship to become a US citizen so he could make money over there. Now if anyone wants to have a discussion on “unAustralian” behaviour how about we start with that.
May I also suggest people who are wedded to January 26th might want to do some reading.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_Day
There are plenty of alternatives rather than celebrating a NSW anniversary.
@try2bhelpfu You lost the argument by telling your Australia Day bashes to read a Wikipedia article.
I'm sure you would also quote everything on Wikipedia as being factual. You can't teach stupid as the saying goes.Well given your comment apparently some people have stupid naturally. More than happy for you to point out the factual flaws in the article. Get back to me when you have done that.
Inb4 Australia Day wiki article is conveniently vandalised with misinformation and talk of free speech and Woolworths
There is that risk.
It is just embarrassing how much people respond to ragebait these days. Celebrate or don't, it was never dependent on cheap merch, no matter what Murdoch/Dutton/random angry person says.
What do I vote for if don't care?
They might not be doing Oz day mech but the hot cross buns are front and centre to remind us that if he ever comes back we can kill him again.