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'It's ridiculous': PM's powerful words to panic buyers

With Coles and Woolworths forced to reintroduce restrictions on the number of products customers can buy amid more panic buying, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has yet again warned Aussies to be sensible.

Mr Morrison slammed the behaviour when asked about his response to the renewed supermarket restrictions by reporters on Friday.

“Stop it, it’s ridiculous,” he said.

“More importantly, those restrictions have been put in place.

“I’m sure it will pass as it did last time and there’s no need for it and I think today it’s important to reassure people the outbreak doesn’t mean there’s a problem. The response to that outbreak is strong which means Australians can have confidence.”

'Stop it, it’s ridiculous' the PM is not happy that panic buying has begun to pick up speed again.
Scott Morrison is not happy that supermarkets have reintroduced limits. Source: AAP

The Prime Minister’s comments echo the same message he gave in March, as supermarkets all over Australia struggled to fill shelves and keep up with the panic buying demand.

“On bulk purchasing of supplies. Stop hoarding,” he said in March.

“I can't be more blunt about it. Stop it.

“It is not sensible, it is not helpful, and it has been one of the most disappointing things I have seen in Australian behaviour in response to this crisis”.

The scene captured by a customer on Thursday in Mildura, VIC shows that panic buying has picked up speed again
The scene captured by a customer on Thursday in Mildura, Victoria, shows that panic buying has picked up speed again. Source: Twitter

Coles and Woolworths have reintroduced purchase limits on toilet paper nationwide as panic-buying sweeps the country once again.

Shoppers documented empty shelves across Sydney, Brisbane and other cities on Thursday, likely sparked by the surge in coronavirus cases experienced in Melbourne over the last week.

Woolworths Supermarkets managing director Claire Peters said the move is precautionary.

“We’ve regrettably started to see elevated demand for toilet roll move outside Victoria in the past 24 hours,” she said in a statement.

“While the demand is not at the same level as Victoria, we’re taking preventative action now to get ahead of any excessive buying this weekend and help maintain social distancing in our stores.”

Coles is also limiting purchases at NSW stores near the Victorian border.

“We ask that customers continue to shop normally so that everyone can have access to the food and groceries they need,” a Coles spokeswoman told 7News.

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