Woolworths’ decision a ‘woke’ response to deep issues

I am incredibly disappointed with Woolworths’ woke decision not to stock Australia Day merchandise. I am a proud fifth-generation Australian whose ancestors came here in 1830 in chains as convicts and then made very successful lives for themselves and their ­families.

Almost all the migrants who have arrived here since then have done the same. They have integrated and worked very hard to give their children a good education while setting high standards of citizenship.

I am very proud of my heritage and very proud to live in this once wonderful, inclusive country.

Woolworths’ divisive decision to enter politics and divide our country by race was thoroughly rejected at the referendum.

Now, with its deaf ears, it is repeating this effort to divide us by refusing to celebrate pride in our country and not allowing us to choose whether or not we want to buy products that celebrate Australia Day.

Shame on you. I will, as always, be hanging my large Australian flag from our balcony and celebrating this day of freedom and love of country.

Woolworths, stick to what you are good at – selling good-quality food. Leave the politics to parliament, where it belongs.

Robyn Manoy, Darling Point, NSW

Woolworths’ decision to not support Australia Day simply provides a reminder to our Indigenous peoples of their past sufferings, and offers nothing for a better, brighter future for them. Woolworths would do itself a favour were it to show support for the passionate efforts of Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to assist dysfunctional Aboriginal communities towards a better life within the Australian community.

Peter Clarke, Corinda, Qld

Vitamins magnate Marcus Blackmore says Peter Dutton’s call for a boycott of Woolworths is “a bit over the top”.

Mr Dutton is merely reminding quiet Australians he has their back because he knows they won’t put up with woke CEOs.

Similarly, all corporates should be warned that most Australians don’t take kindly to over-the-top threats from other countries as well, and they could quite easily take their custom elsewhere if those companies continue to import and sell that country’s goods. (“Canberra warned over Taiwan”, 13-14/1).

Ross McDonald, Gordon, NSW

Instead of wasting his time calling for a boycott on individual retailers like Woolworths for not stocking Australia Day merchandise, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton would be better served by stating a clear policy on how a Coalition government led by him would support the maintenance of Australia Day on January 26 in perpetuity.

No matter what alternative date is chosen, a woke minority addicted to the black-armband view of our history will continue to be unhappy about it. Surely it’s time we moved on from this pointless annual debate to more important things. Let the electorate decide if they want to maintain Australia Day as it is at the next federal election.

Les de Kretser, Indooroopilly QLD

It is past time that people in privileged positions such as CEOs and representative sports people eschewed pushing their personal views on customers, staff and supporters when fulfilling their official duties. I doubt that these leaders obtain approval from investors/supporters for imposing their social, political or other views on the broader population.

I have no problem with them expressing their views on Facebook or similar social media outlets if this is permitted by their organisation, and where the rest of us can ignore their views if we choose, but no matter how worthy the cause do not abuse your privileged position to push your barrow on the public at large. If you are a grocer, stick to groceries, a cricketer to cricket and an airline CEO to running it competently.

Peter Bridge, Robina, Qld

Price-gouging has been obvious for a year or more and supermarkets have bluffed us all. Media has failed to address/question the gouging along the way; politicians have sat back and the Nationals have failed farmers and the public. The supermarket gouging is close to theft. It also exploits primary producers. Margins have been clearly biased to the supermarkets for a year and they have used inflation to do so.

Stuart Davie, Corowa, NSW