Woolworths merch debate makes a farce of what Australia Day should be about
The vitriol around the supermarket giant's merchandise decision has trivialised the important debate around the day.
OPINION
Australia Day is a time to celebrate our country and people, while reflecting on our past, our future and great Aussie values like mateship, respect for others, freedom and "fair go".
But this year, the conversation has been hijacked by an epic over-reaction – bordering on almost comical faux outrage – to Woolworth's "economic decision" to stop selling a small selection of cheesy, overseas-made Australia Day kitsch that trivialised our national day and eventually ended up in landfill.
Instead of celebrating our nation in the lead-up to a long weekend spent with loved ones, Aussies were blindsided by a bizarre, politicised debate over tacky and largely unsellable throwaway trinkets that quickly escalated into what some have unflatteringly described as "a culture war".
It really seems we’re missing the point of having a national day in the first place.
I'm a proud Aussie
Personally, I am extremely proud to call myself Australian, and – like almost one-in-three Aussies or 29.5 per cent – I was born overseas, arriving in Sydney two decades ago as a young backpacker.
What first struck me about the Harbour City – aside from the glorious beaches, rugged Blue Mountains and world-famous buildings – was its rich history, Indigenous culture, convict roots, colonial past and strong migrant influence.
For me, becoming an Australian citizen was one of the proudest moments of my life; standing next to others who had also travelled across the world to call Australia home, holding a certificate and newly gifted golden Wattle plant.
We all know January 26 brings with it an uncomfortable debate every year. With many questioning the merit of celebrating our nation on the date the First Fleet of convicts arrived in Sydney Cove, marking the start of British colonialism on these shores.
And this year, it seems even more poignant following the failed Voice referendum, which saw politics at its ugliest, caused deep pain for First Nations people and their supporters, and polarised our country.
Outrage misses point of national day
Yesterday, we saw Woolies CEO Brad Banducci grilled by host Karl Stefanovic on whether he was "woke" or anti-Australian, after the supermarket giant took out a full-page advert stating the company was not trying to "cancel" Australia Day,
For his part, Banducci, a "deeply grateful first-generation Australian", acknowledged the decision could have been explained better and said the fallout "weighs deeply" on him, particularly the negative impact on Woolies employees who had experienced a "50 per cent increase in aggression" in-store.
With that said, refusing to sell Australia Day merch on supermarket shelves certainly doesn't seem a heinous enough crime to warrant Opposition leader Peter Dutton's call for a boycott of a company that employs 178,000 hardworking Aussies.
Two-dollar shops across the country have shelves full of Australia-themed items including flags, hats, visors, T-shirts, "Strewth mate" stubby holders, boomerangs and whatever else you can shake a thong at.
If it’s that much of a drama, we can even reuse last year’s merch which is gathering dust at the back of our cupboards, rather than buying more single-use items made and imported from overseas.
Now, with the Australia Day long weekend almost upon us, one can only hope the conversation moves away from this farcical knee-jerk reaction.
It’s clear that when Woolies stores are targeted with offensive graffiti and staff members are threatened or abused – someone needs to step in. This is exactly what Banducci did this week. Not doing so is what would really be anti-Australian.
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