Coronavirus: Lisa Wilkinson calls on supermarkets to introduce new shopping policy

As panic buying continues, Lisa Wilkinson has urged supermarket bosses to make one big change, describing it as a “no-brainer”.

After another weekend of chaotic scenes at stores around Australia, Lisa Wilkinson has called for calm and has urged supermarket bosses to make urgent changes.

Speaking on The Sunday Project, Wilkinson said: “Images of people physically attacking each other over rolls of toilet paper would have been simply unimaginable just a few weeks ago. But for anyone who has been to the supermarket in the last couple of days, we know right now it’s a case of survival of the fittest and sadly the fiercest.”

Wilkinson said that elderly people in particular will be feeling “very scared right now” and added “we need to put plans in place to ensure they are not left behind”.

“Supermarket bosses, can I suggest you think about leaving that first hour of trading each day for the elderly and those with disabilities, or those who can prove they are shopping for them,” The Project host suggested. “No huge crowds, everything restocked and freshly cleaned. That is a no-brainer.”

Wilkinson also urged people who have more products than they need to think about donating items to a refuge or someone who may need it more.

“The true test of a society and who we are as a people is how we respond in a crisis,” she said. “Just weeks ago we saw so many acts of kindness during the bushfires. We know what we are capable of.

“Now is the time to prove there is no limit to our generosity. Now is the time to prove no matter how hard things get, none of us, especially not the vulnerable, will be left behind.”

Fears over coronavirus have led to unprecedented scenes at supermarkets around Australia this weekend, with staff and customers saying it’s “worse than Christmas”.

Queues formed outside stores before they even opened. At the Coles store in Ashmore on the Gold Coast, customers were filmed sliding under the store’s barrier as soon as it started being lifted at opening time.

People lining up at Costco in North Lakes in Brisbane before opening. Picture: AAP Image/Attila Csaszar

People buying toilet paper at Costco in Brisbane. Picture: AAP Image/Attila Csaszar

Coles, Woolworths and Aldi have all issued shoppers buying limits in recent weeks, before tightening the amounts people can buy as stock dwindles quicker than it can be replenished.

But some desperate panic buyers are reportedly using drastic measures to get around the grocery buying limits this weekend, with reports claiming parents are getting their young children to line-up and buy packets on their own.

Aldi fans have taken to social media to blast the “un-Australian” tactic.

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As panic buyers queue to get inside Aldi and buy supplies, shoppers have reported seeing some using “’un-Australian’ tactics to get past the buying limits. Picture: Facebook

According to reports, parents are getting their children to line up and buy packs of toilet paper so they can take home more than one in the family’s shop. Picture: Facebook

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Parents were allegedly seen handing their children cash to carry out the toilet paper task, which angered another shopper, the Daily Mail Australia reported.

“That’s un-Australian – there will be nothing left for anyone else,” she said, according to the report.

Online, the tactic was branded “sneaky” by others.

“When the chips are down people think of themselves,” one person said on Facebook.

“These people are greedy and selfish,” another wrote.

While some urged others not to judge, stating we “don’t know why” families might need large supplies.

Others shared photos showing long queues to get inside Aldi stores.

“This is the line to get in my local Aldi,” one person wrote, alongside a snap of a line snaking outside the building.

Another mum shared a similar photo, writing: “This is 8am on the dot. Like really how about us mums that can’t get out at 6am.”

Some shared photos of the lack of stock inside, freezers with no food in them and shelves completely bare.

Others shared photos of empty freezers in stores. Picture: Facebook

While multiple shared photos of long lines. Picture: Facebook

“This was 8am ALDI Casula Mall. Pushing and shoving to get to the toilet paper aisle ....” one wrote.

“World gone mad, nothing more to say,” one frustrated shopper declared.

Aldi isn’t the only store struggling with hoards of customers this weekend, with Coles and Woolworths experiencing huge visitor numbers too.

There were scenes of absolute chaos at a Coles in Sydney yesterday morning as shoppers rocked up at the store’s entrance in Westfield Eastgardens and grabbed antibacterial wipes from a dispenser to wipe their trolleys down.

Customers lined up to wipe down their trolleys at a Coles in Sydney yesterday. Picture: Supplied

The line for the check out snaked around the entire store. Picture: Supplied

A Woolworths store in Marrickville had similar scenes, with 20-minute queues just to access the carpark. Inside aisles were blocked by long lines and items, such as pasta, toilet paper and tissues completely sold out.

“It’s worse than Christmas,” one shopper was overheard saying by news.com.au, while another said: “I have nothing in the pantry and two kids to feed.”

There were similar scenes in other stores, like this one in Marrickville, Sydney. Picture: Supplied

A Woolworths store in Alexandria, NSW had zero toilet paper on its shelves. Picture: Supplied

Coles on Friday it would be limiting the purchase of pasta, flour, dry rice, paper towels, paper tissues and hand sanitisers to two items per customer.

While Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci issued a grim message about toilet paper supplies as Australian continue to panic buy.

In an email sent to hundreds of customers, Mr Banducci said toilet paper “won’t be available for pick up orders for the time being”.

“Limits are now in place on toilet paper, wipes, paper towels, serviettes, rice and some other items,” he said.

“Our toilet paper suppliers continue to work on meeting increased demand, and we’re working with some suppliers to prioritise the production of smaller pack sizes, so we can make more packs available to you this week.

“Our team will be happy to see if toilet paper is available in store when you come in to pick up your order.

“We’ve been working hard to keep our shelves stocked and delivery and pick up windows available.

“However, as you are no doubt aware, demand is still very high and products are being bought more quickly than usual when they arrive in store.

“These remain challenging times and with the situation evolving.”

Aldi too dropped its buying limits earlier in the week, restricting customers to one per pack customer from a previous limit of four.

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