Key Points
- Peter Dutton's call to boycott Woolworths has not received wide support.
- Australians are more concerned about price increases at the supermarket.
- Dutton’s call came after Woolworths announced it would stop stocking Australia Day merchandise.
Just 20 per cent of Australian voters back for its decision not to sell Australia Day merchandise, according to a YouGov survey.
Fourteen per cent of respondents said they supported the supermarket’s decision not to stock these items, while 66 per cent were more concerned about price hikes at Woolworths.
What did Peter Dutton say about Woolworths?
Last week, Dutton called on Australians to boycott Woolworths.
"If I want to go into Woolworths and purchase all of the paraphernalia to celebrate Australia Day with my next-door neighbours or my family or my mates, well that's something that I should be able and [am] entitled to do," he said in an interview with 2GB radio.
"Other companies haven't done it (stopped selling Australia Day merchandise) and on that basis, I think Australians should boycott Woolworths."
Earlier that week, Woolworths Group announced Woolworth and Big W would no longer stock Australia Day-specific products due to "a gradual decline in demand for Australia Day merchandise from our stores over recent years".
People more worried about prices than 'Australia Day boycott'
YouGov surveyed 1532 people from 12-17 January. The survey found grocery price increases worried people across all demographics, with 66 per cent agreeing, "my main concern with supermarkets now is excessive price rises rather than this issue."
There has been growing support for of Australia Day in recognition of opposition from Indigenous groups, who refer to it as Invasion Day or Survival Day.
Asked about Australia Day in the survey, 49 per cent of voters said it should "remain on January 26th only", 30 per cent said the day should be a two-day public holiday that "celebrates old and new" and 21 per cent said the date should be changed.
Woolworths isn't the first Australian retailer to stop selling Australia Day merchandise. In 2023, Kmart confirmed that it would no longer sell Australia Day merchandise in any of its stores.
