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"Apology not accepted!" Steve Price blasts pub's Aus Day boycott

<p>Steve Price has slammed the Aussie pub group responsible for <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/hundreds-of-pubs-cancel-australia-day-celebrations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cancelling</a> January 26th celebrations in over 200 venues around the country. </p> <p>After copping widespread backlash for the controversial move, Australian Venue Co apologised for causing "concern and confusion" with their decision to cancel any Aus Day celebrations in their venues out of respect for Indigenous Australians. </p> <p>On Monday night's episode of <em>The Project</em>, Steve Price launched into a tirade about the decision, saying, “Apology not accepted!"</p> <p>"When are these finger waving woke corporations going to wake up to the fact we don’t want them to tell us what to do on Australia Day,” he said.</p> <p>“Last year it was Woolworths, ‘oh we won’t sell the flag’, the CEO, Brad Banducci, ended up losing his job. Just shut up and let people throw a lamb chop on the barbecue, have a beer and get on with it."</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDEYltQPGhB/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDEYltQPGhB/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Project (@theprojecttv)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“It’s really annoying, they put this out overnight and when they hear the feedback from the public which says ‘shut up’, they go ‘oh we didn’t mean to offend anyone’, well you did offend people!”</p> <p>Sarah Harris went on to question what the ban would look like, asking, "Are they going to ban merch, T-shirts? It doesn’t make any sense.”</p> <p>In a lengthy statement on Monday, Australian Venue Co said it regrets the "concern and confusion" it has caused over comments about celebrating Australia Day. </p> <p>"We sincerely regret that — our purpose is to reinforce community in our venues, not divide it," the statement read.</p> <p>"It is not for us to tell anyone whether or how to celebrate Australia Day. We acknowledge that and we apologise for our comments. It certainly wasn't our intention to offend anyone."</p> <p>"Whether you choose to celebrate Australia Day or not, everyone is welcome in our pubs, always."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Sky News</em></p>

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Fans threaten to boycott I'm A Celeb over casting rumour

<p><em>I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! </em>has teased the next season's cast on social media, but the potential appearance of a "headline-grabbing Olympian" has the rumour mill spinning. </p> <p>“A headline-grabbing Olympian has a ticket to the African wilds! 🎟️”, the show posted on Instagram. </p> <p>Hosts Robert Irwin and Julia Morris hinted that a "freestyle lover" will face the jungle in Season 7, set to air in January. </p> <p>While some followers posed a number of Olympians who they thought fit the mould, others speculated the possible TV return of the controversial breakdancer, Raygun, and many of them were quick to express their disdain. </p> <p>“Okay, I’m going to assume it’s Raygun,” one person said. “But other freestylers could include: Ariarne Titmus — Freestyle Swimming. Sally Fitzgibbons - Surfing. Torah Bright — Freestyle Snowboarding.”</p> <p>“Former Olympian Pole Vaulter Liz Parnov,” another suggested.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DC4y8Y0u4XL/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DC4y8Y0u4XL/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by #ImACelebrityAU (@imacelebrityau)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“I’m boycotting the show if it’s Raygun 🙄,” one person commented.</p> <p>“If it’s Raygun, I’m not watching 🤷‍♀️,” another claimed.</p> <p>"I’d rather watch paint dry than Raygun on TV … what on earth are the producers thinking," a third wrote. </p> <p>"Please NOT the "breakdancer" Don't make me boycott for the first time ever. Noooooo! 😬😭" a fourth added. </p> <p>The reality show drops celebrities into the jungle and forces them out of their comfort zone.</p> <p>On Wednesday, the series hinted the famous personalities set to appear on the next season, with clues including:  a “stadium superstar”, a “football strongman”, and a “comedy genius”.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

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Country boycotts Paris Games after being stripped of medal

<p>The prime minister of Romania has vowed to boycott the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics over what he described as “flagrant injustice” to two of the country’s gymnasts.</p> <p>Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has called out the "scandalous situation" surrounding Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Voinea, who both missed out on medals after the women's floor routines. </p> <p>Barbosu was initially believed to have won bronze and was beginning to celebrate the win, when the judges then adjusted the difficulty of American gymnast Jordan Chiles' routine, bumping her up into third place and sending the Romanian gymnasts into fourth and fifth position. </p> <p>The president of the country’s gymnastics federation Carmencita Constantin told AFP she would file two complaints to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after both Romanian gymnasts left the competition in tears.</p> <p>Voinea, 17, who filed an unsuccessful appeal of her own, complained she had been unfairly penalised.</p> <p>Fellow Romanian gymnastics legend Nadia Comaneci chimed in on the controversy, urging a review of Voinea’s routine, after she claimed the athlete didn’t step outside the floor surface, an act she had been punished for.</p> <p>It comes as heartbreaking new footage of Barbosu’s medal being taken away emerged, after the final scores were updated and resulted in her coming in fourth place. </p> <p>As a result, the Romanian gymnastics team, who qualified for the first time in 12 years, left Paris without a medal after coming in seventh in the team competition.</p> <p>Prime Minister Ciolacu shared his upset over the loss, saying the athletes were treated "dishonourably" and would be boycotting the closing ceremony in protest. </p> <p>“I have decided not to attend the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics after the scandalous situation in gymnastics, where our athletes were treated in an absolutely dishonourable way,” he wrote on Facebook.</p> <p>Romania also sent a letter of protest to the International Gymnastics Federation, after it was revealed that Voinea has now quit gymnastics after the dramatic Olympics loss. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Daniela Porcelli/SPP/Shutterstock Editorial</em></p> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </p>

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Major supermarket director slams "woke" rivals' Australia Day boycott

<p>John-Paul Drake, director of family-owned Drakes Supermarkets, has slammed rival supermarkets for moving away from stocking Australia Day merchandise. </p> <p>The fiery rant posted on social media came after the independent grocery retailer, which has 66 stores across South Australia and Queensland, shared their latest catalogue promoting Australia Day. </p> <p>The supermarket director said that his objection to “wokeworths” was about “choice”.</p> <p>“Whether you choose to celebrate Australia Day or not is totally up to you,” he wrote. </p> <p>“As a retailer, it’s my responsibility to let my customers choose if a product is suitable for them.</p> <p>“Just because you’re lactose-intolerant, does that mean I shouldn’t sell dairy products in store? How would you feel if I told you I didn’t like chocolate so we’ll no longer be selling it?</p> <p>“I agree that there is a broader discussion to be had around the date we celebrate our country," he added. </p> <p>“But until that date is changed, I will choose to gather with my friends and family and celebrate how bloody lucky we are that we live in a country where we can choose to have these kinds of debates.”</p> <p>He added that he understands some "may not agree with me, and that's ok." </p> <p>“Some of you may choose to boycott our stores – and I respect your right to choose where you spend your money,” he wrote. </p> <p>“I do ask, however, that you respect my team if you do enter our stores. They do not deserve to cop abuse for my values.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2Q56xUvOVW/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2Q56xUvOVW/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by jp drake (@shake.and.drake)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>This comes after <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/woolworths-under-fire-for-dropping-australia-day-merch" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Woolworths</a> confirmed that it would no longer be selling Australia day merchandise last week, with Big W and Aldi following suit.</p> <p>Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was quick to call for a <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/peter-dutton-calls-for-woolworths-boycott" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boycott</a> against the supermarket giant, for their "woke agenda".</p> <p>Coles, on the other hand, confirmed that they will continue to sell a small-range of Australia Day themed products for those who wish to celebrate the day. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram/ Facebook</em></p> <p> </p>

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"Wokeness gone mad": Steve Price slams AO Australia Day boycott

<p>Steve Price has slammed Australian Open organisers for choosing not to celebrate Australia Day for the second year in a row. </p> <p>The decision came after the Victorian government axed its Australia Day parade last year, amid growing backlash from athletes about celebrating on January 26. </p> <p>“This started last year and ended Australia Day celebrations, they used to feature fireworks, the playing of the national anthem and special musical events to mark the day at the tennis,” the Sky News host said. </p> <p>“So we have First Nations day, no drama from me about that, then the organisers have set aside a day for Australian Open Pride Day, an Australian Open All Abilities Day and an Australian Open Glam Slam for the LGBTI+ folk that will run across January 26 to 28.</p> <p>“You can’t make this stuff up.”</p> <p>Price also slammed the AO's decision to move the induction day for the tennis player who made it into this year's Australian Tennis Hall of Fame. </p> <p>The event normally takes place on January 26, but this year Lleyton Hewitt’s induction has been moved to the 24th of January. </p> <p>“This year it’s going to be Lleyton Hewitt – you couldn’t get a more Australian Australian than Lleyton Hewitt,” Price said. </p> <p>“They’ve changed the date of that event from Australia Day, when it used to be, to the 24th, two days earlier.</p> <p>“This is just crazy wokeness gone mad.</p> <p>“Can anyone at Tennis Australia defend this disgraceful snubbing of our national day by a tournament that carries the name of our nation," he ranted. </p> <p>Price then slammed the AO organisers for their decision. </p> <p>“It’s a pity the woke directors who run Tennis Australia don’t have the courage to drag the South African bloke running the organisation Craig Tiley into line and insist we recognise the great nation that lends its name to his tennis tournament," he said. </p> <p>A few others have agreed with Price, including Journalist Joe Hildebrand, who said that the decision is “counter-productive” in terms of making any meaningful difference. </p> <p>“The idea that these sorts of ridiculous virtue-signalling gestures are going to make any difference … is absolutely ridiculous – in fact, it puts people off even considering or wanting to address these issues,</p> <p>“This sort of stuff is what cost the Yes vote its victory … and it’s just so counter-productive, self-destructive, idiotic – you could use any name.”</p> <p>Radio Personality Tom Elliott, also called the move ridiculous. </p> <p>“If you’re going to call yourself the Australian Open and it happens that our national day takes place during the tournament, you have to acknowledge Australia Day,” he said. </p> <p>“Maybe the date will change down the track, but right now it’s January 26.”</p> <p><em>Images: Getty/ Sky News</em></p>

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Peter Dutton calls for Woolworths boycott

<p>Peter Dutton has urged Aussies to boycott Woolworths, after the supermarket giant <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/woolworths-under-fire-for-dropping-australia-day-merch" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> their decision to not stock any Australia Day merchandise. </p> <p>The opposition leader lashed out at the "woke" decision, and took aim at Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci on 2GB radio on Thursday. </p> <p>"I think it's up to customers whether they want to go in and buy the product or not. If they don't want to celebrate Australia Day, well that's a decision for them, but I think people should boycott Woolworths," he told Nine's <em>2GB</em> radio.</p> <p>"Other companies haven't done it (stopped selling Australia Day merchandise) and on that basis, I think Australians should boycott Woolworths."</p> <p>"I think Brad Banducci should come out and announce that he's reversing the decision."</p> <p>“I think the prime minister, frankly, needs to call it out because these CEOs do believe that by making these crazy decisions, somehow they’re signing up to the woke agenda of Anthony Albanese.”</p> <p>Dutton's comments were echoed by <em>The Project</em> panellist Steve Price, who launched into a tirade about the supermarket giant's decision on Thursday night. </p> <p>"Here we go again, more woke lecturing from corporate Australia," an outraged Price said of the "dumb" ban.</p> <p>He went on to point out that "Woolworths is a South African company by the way. They should bugger off and let us get on with Australia Day."</p> <p>"I'm proud to be Australian, thank you."</p> <p>Woolworths shared a statement on Wednesday, announcing their decision not to stock any Australia Day themed merch this year, due to the “<span style="caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px;">gradual decline” in demand for the merchandise over the years and “broader discussion” about the January 26th date and “what it means” to different parts of the community.</span></p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">“While Australian flags are sold within BIG W all year round, we don’t have any additional themed merchandise available to purchase in-store in our Supermarkets or BIG W ahead of Australia Day,” a spokesperson said.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">“We know many people like to use this day as a time to get together and we offer a huge variety of products to help customers mark the day as they choose.”</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">Coles have shared they will still be stocking a "small range" of Australia-themed products for those who wish to celebrate the public holiday. </p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">The decision to scrap the merch comes after the "Change The Date" movement has gained more traction over the years, with many arguing that Australia Day should be celebrated on a different day. </p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';"><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

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The unfunny fallout: Richard Wilkins causes bizarre boycott of Barry Humphries memorial

<p>In what can only be described as a plot twist worthy of its own sitcom, the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/free-tickets-up-for-grabs-to-barry-humphries-state-memorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">memorial service for Australian comedy icon Barry Humphries</a> is shaping up to be more dramatic than the very finest of soap operas. </p> <p>The cause of this uproar? None other than the involvement of Richard Wilkins, the silver fox of entertainment reporting, as the MC/host of the event.</p> <p>It seems Wilkins' mere presence has caused such distress among some of Humphries' nearest and dearest that they've decided to boycott the memorial altogether. </p> <p>One of Humphries' longtime friends, Professor Ross Fitzgerald, <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/family-friends-slam-richard-wilkins-as-mc-for-barry-humphries-memorial/news-story/b6e4dd1ddcd20237a4b88e83cac40e33" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expressed his disbelief</a>, saying, "Like a number of Barry's friends, I was amazed and aghast that Channel 9 personality Richard Wilkins was chosen to be the MC at this important event, Barry's memorial." </p> <p>Fitzgerald continued, "I find it very hard to believe that members of the family and the children, for example, would have approved this."</p> <p>And now, while the upcoming memorial turns into a high-stakes game of 'Who Wants to Avoid Richard Wilkins?', Sydney Confidential went on to report that while Humphries' widow Lizzie Spender played a role in organising the service, Humphries' daughter Emily was not consulted and won't be attending. </p> <p>But Wilkins has his fair share of defenders. Australian TV producer Mark Llewellyn took to Twitter to proclaim, "Humphries would have abhorred these snobs," adding, "Shove a gladioli up their boycotting bottoms!" That's one way to settle a family dispute.</p> <p>Meanwhile, Seven entertainment reporter Peter Ford, in an attempt to play peacemaker, tweeted, "It's all very unfortunate and obviously not Richard's fault. He's a great M.C." </p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Caring

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Massive backlash against Channel 10 for urging staff to work on Australia Day

<p>Joe Hildebrand – a former employee of Channel 10 – has appeared on <em>Sunrise</em> to take his former employers to task after it was reported that two senior executives had sent an email urging staff to <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/channel-10-declares-january-26th-a-day-not-for-celebration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boycott Australia Day</a> by working instead of observing the public holiday.</p> <p>Hildebrand, 46, was formerly a host of the Studio 10 morning program from 2013 until he was let go in 2020. </p> <p>He has now accused execs at Network Ten of “virtue signalling”. </p> <p>Hildebrand went on to insist that, rather than condemn the idea of Australia Day altogether –  a national holiday that the majority of Australians still support – that instead Channel 10 should consider donating to a variety of Indigenous charities.</p> <p>During the fiery conversation on <em>Sunrise</em> with host Monique Wright and News.com.au political reporter Samantha Maiden, Hildebrand also couldn't resist taking a swipe at Channel 10's continuing woes amid diving ratings and rounds of redundancies.</p> <p>“I understand they're going to allow republicans to work on the Queen's Birthday, and they're going to allow Liberal voters to work on Labour Day, so there's some terrific initiatives coming through,” he said.</p> <p>“I'd also like to see from all these companies that have sent out group emails to their employees recently - and the good thing about Channel 10 is that every year there are fewer and fewer employees to send group emails to - why don't they instead donate half their profits to charities that actually help Indigenous people?”</p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/12/SunriseJoeHildebrand01.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p>After mentioning several non-profits that are achieving positive results for First Nations people, including the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation, Hildebrand said that improving literacy is “probably the most important thing you can do to reduce intergenerational poverty”.</p> <p>“I'm pretty sure you'll see them jump at the chance to [donate to Indigenous charities], just as they've jumped at the chance to show how sensitive they are about Australia Day,” Hildebrand continued. “By January 26, they'll be falling over themselves to hand out their money, all their profits – obviously profits don't apply to Channel 10 – to these terrific charities that work so hard for so little money, all the time.”</p> <p>Two execs at Channel 10 have sent emails to staff informing them that the network won’t be celebrating Australia Day, saying that employees can come to work instead of taking the day off. Parent company Paramount ANZ's chief content officer Beverley McGarvey and co-lead Jarrod Villani told staff it was “not a day of celebration” for Indigenous people and said employees could decide whether they wished to take the day off as a public holiday or work if they preferred.</p> <p>“At Paramount ANZ we aim to create a safe place to work where cultural differences are appreciated, understood and respected,” the pair wrote. “For our First Nations people, we as an organisation acknowledge that January 26 is not a day of celebration. </p> <p>“We recognise that there has been a turbulent history, particularly around that date and the recognition of that date being Australia Day.”</p> <p>Staff could choose to work through the national holiday if they didn't feel comfortable celebrating it and could take another day of leave instead.</p> <p>“We recognise that January 26 evokes different emotions for our employees across the business, and we are receptive to employees who do not feel comfortable taking this day as a public holiday,” the email read.</p> <p>The network bosses were adamant that those who did wish to celebrate Australia Day “reflect and respect the different perspectives and viewpoints of all Australians”.</p> <p>Channel 10 has also been struggling in the ratings with questions now being raised about the station's viability. It was also revealed by Daily Mail Australia that the network was forced to <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/lisa-wilkinson-s-big-night-out-after-channel-10-cancels-christmas-bash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cancel its annual Christmas Party</a>.</p> <p><em>Images: Sunrise</em></p>

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Calls for World Cup boycott after "awful" homophobic slur

<p>A Qatari World Cup ambassador has come under fire for an "awful" homophobic comment, causing several countries to call for a boycott of the event. </p> <p>In an interview on German TV, former footballer and ambassador Khalid Salman called homosexuality a “damage in the mind”, sparking criticism in Europe just 12 days before the tournament kicks off.</p> <p>Salman said Qatar will accept gay visitors but “they have to accept our rules”, before saying homosexuality was “haram” - forbidden in Islam - during the interview, which was abruptly broken off after his comments.</p> <p>In the lead up to the World Cup, Qatar has come under fire for their human rights record, including its treatment of foreign workers and its stance on women’s and LGBTQ rights.</p> <p>German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser on Tuesday called Salman’s comments “awful”.</p> <p>“That is also the reason why we are working to hopefully improve things in Qatar in the future,” said Faeser, who is also Germany’s minister for sport.</p> <p>Faeser said last week on a visit to Qatar that she will attend the World Cup after being given a “guarantee of safety” for LGBTQ fans by Qatar’s prime minister.</p> <p>The comments have prompted several sporting captains from European countries, including England, France and Germany, to call for a boycott of the event.</p> <p>To show their support for their LGBTQ fans, they will wear armbands in rainbow colours with the message “One Love” during the tournament in an anti-discrimination campaign.</p> <p>“No matter your race, your religion, your social and sexual orientation, you are most welcome, and Qataris are ready to receive you with the best hospitality that you can imagine,” FIFA secretary-general Fatma Samoura said last week.</p> <p>But Wenzel Michalski, the head of Human Rights Watch in Germany, warned there was “a big risk” that open displays of homosexuality in Qatar “will be punished – no matter what assurances there are”.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Ally Langdon tears into "disappointing" Manly pride jersey boycott

<p>Ally Langdon has slammed the decision of seven Manly players to boycott a charity match over rainbow jerseys, calling their move "disappointing".</p> <p><em>The Today Show</em> host was joined by Gus Worland: the founder of the Gotcha4Life charity who raised hundreds of thousands of dollars from the match between the Manly Sea Eagles and Sydney Roosters on Thursday night. </p> <p>However, when the seven members of the Manly team refused to wear the club's rainbow pride jersey as a one-off uniform for the match, they boycotted the jerseys and walked. </p> <p>Ally said on Friday morning, "You have to respect them for taking the stand that they did, that is their belief."</p> <p>"But when they then turn around and say we're going to take part next year - I was filthy."</p> <p>"I'm a Manly supporter, right, but I was filthy that they didn't run out last night and they didn't put the team first."</p> <p>Despite the controversy over the jerseys, Worland said it was an emotional night, particularly for Manly player Ian Roberts - rugby league's first openly gay player - who wept uncontrollably when his former club took to the field wearing the rainbow jersey. </p> <p>"I sat there with Ian Roberts, we cuddled and cried, and I said 'We can do good with that money.' That's what it's all about," he said.</p> <p>"Ian Roberts is such a star and I love him and he was crying uncontrollably at some stages last night. This is such a big move. The conversation has been started."</p> <p>Worland, the founder of suicide prevention non-profit organisation Gotcha4Life, said the match raised significant funds that will go back into the community to help those that are battling with mental health issues. </p> <p>The Manly Sea Eagles ultimately lost the game to the Sydney Roosters, which Balmain Tigers legend Ben Elias told Langdon was a direct result of the player's boycott. </p> <p>"It really has put the Manly side … if you look at it from a professional point of view and what Manly are all about, they needed to win last night," he said.</p> <p>"The ripple effect of what those seven players did last night will be a long-term effect for the club itself. I just think you will see a lot of weaknesses in the club."</p> <p>Ally replied, "That's what my fear here is, everyone is painting a picture of it, that it's fine and we respect everyone's opinion."</p> <p>"But when you run out onto that field every week together and you slog it out and it is a team sport and you work so hard, when that game was so critical, that's the part that I found disappointing."</p> <p>"However, it has started an incredibly important conversation."</p> <p>Ben Elias agreed, saying the match helped bring people together to support a unified cause. </p> <p>"We've seen now the politicians talking about pride and equality and it's fantastic, love is love," he said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Today / Instagram</em></p>

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"This is how it's done": Big names speak out against Manly pride jersey boycott

<p>Magda Szubanski and Jesinta Franklin have led the charge of celebrity voices condemning the Manly Sea Eagles and the players boycotting the pride jersey for a charity match. </p> <p>Jesinta, wife of AFL star Buddy Franklin, weighed in on the saga as she shared a photo of her husband wearing the Sydney Swans jersey in a match against St Kilda last month. </p> <p>She simply wrote, "This is how it's done," followed by a string of rainbow hearts.</p> <p>The image Jesinta shared showed the AFL players in their pride jerseys, along with the words "Everyone is welcome at the footy!" written over the rainbow pride flag. </p> <p>Magda Szubanski also spoke out over the controversy in a series of scathing tweets, questioning the foundation of the players religious beliefs that saw them boycott the jerseys in the first place. </p> <p>She declared the seven Sea Eagles players in question, who are boycotting their team’s Thursday night clash with the Roosters, were failing to show the tolerance demanded by their religion by refusing to wear a LGBTQI+ themed jersey.</p> <p>“Thought experiment: imagine if Manly players were asked to wear stripes to let religious players &amp; fans know they are welcome,” she began.</p> <p>“Then imagine an atheist player refuses to wear the stripes coz their “belief” (based on fact) is that millions have been killed in the name of religion."</p> <p>“Religious tolerance doesn’t mean you condone or believe in the other’s religion. It means that you accept the right of difference to exist. That you support a world where people are not excluded or persecuted because of their religion. All we ask, is for the same courtesy."</p> <p>“You can’t force people to believe that homosexuality is not sinful."</p> <p>“But you can ask them to help make a tolerant society that accepts difference. Including their own.”</p> <p>Szubanski later posted bible verses which highlighted directions to show love and hospitality to “strangers” which further amplified her point of acceptable and tolerance.</p> <p>The series of tweets have racked up hundreds of likes, with many sharing how they could not understand why the Manly players were willing to sabotage their team's chance at securing a spot in the NRL finals over something as frivolous as a rainbow stripe.  </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Instagram</em></p>

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China ridicules Australia with more mocking cartoons

<p>China has once again taken a swipe at Australia, as China's Global Times posted a cartoon mocking Australia's allegiance to the US and UK. </p> <p>The cartoon was posted to China's state-affiliated media channels, blasting Australia's "arrogance and immaturity" as Scott Morrison withdraws support of the Beijing Winter Olympics. </p> <p>Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison discussed the tension of the relationship between Australia and China and how the union is a cause for concern, as are the ongoing human rights abuses against the Uyghur community in China's Xinjiang region. </p> <p>“The human rights abuses in Xinjiang and many other issues that Australia has consistently raised, we have been very pleased and very happy to talk to the Chinese Government about these issues and there’s been no obstacle to that occurring on our side,” he said.</p> <p>“But the Chinese Government has consistently not accepted those opportunities for us to meet about these issues.</p> <p>“So it is not surprising, therefore, that Australian Government officials would, therefore, not be going to China for those Games. Australian athletes will, though.”</p> <p>Australia has joined Canada, the United States and Britain in boycotting the games in the name of human rights. </p> <p>Following Scott Morrison's announcement, the Global Times posted the mocking cartoons. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GTCartoon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GTCartoon</a>: No.1 lackey <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/US?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#US</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Australia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Australia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottMorrisonMP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ScottMorrisonMP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Beijing2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Beijing2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LiuRui60688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LiuRui60688</a> <a href="https://t.co/oObXYXIwYB">pic.twitter.com/oObXYXIwYB</a></p> — Global Times (@globaltimesnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/globaltimesnews/status/1468578044168511488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2021</a></blockquote> <p>A piece written for the communist party media also hit out at the decision, claiming Australia's decision was "nothing but a joke".</p> <p>“Australia’s move is not surprising. As a Western country located in the southern hemisphere, the sense of insecurity grasps Australia so much that it needs a ‘big brother’ to follow,” the piece said.</p> <p>“However, without even getting an invitation, the so-called boycott is nothing but a joke, Lü Xiang, director for research of the Chinese Institute of Hong Kong, told the Global Times.</p> <p>“The Morrison government’s boycott decision exposed their arrogance and immaturity in dealing with geopolitics as the move brings no good to Australia or bilateral relations, Chen Hong, a professor and director of the Australian Studies Centre, East China Normal University, told the Global Times.”</p> <p>Beijing issued a warning to the US, saying they would "pay the price" for its boycott, while accusing Parliament House of <span>“political posturing and selfish games” and “blindly following” Washington.</span></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Pauline Hanson calls for full boycott on Chinese products this Christmas

<p>One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has once again called for a boycott on Chinese made products this Christmas, as relations between the two countries plunge to a new low.</p> <p>“You might think it’s awfully hard, yes it is hard, I get it,” Hanson said in a Facebook video on Monday night. “We all have our part to play in this. Think about it when you buy that furniture, that toy, that food, whatever you buy, have a look where it comes from, and if it’s China, let it sit on the shelf.”</p> <p>The Senator first proposed a boycott last week in response to “China’s recent economic attacks against Australia”, which included a 200 per cent tariff on Australian wine.</p> <p>On Monday, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian took to Twitter to post an image showing an Australian soldier holding a bloodied knife to the throat of an Afghan child, referencing the allegations in the Brereton war crimes report.</p> <p>Prime Minister Scott Morrison blasted the image as “repugnant” and demanded an apology from the Chinese government.</p> <p>“It is deeply offensive to every Australian, every Australian who has served in that uniform, every Australian who serves in that uniform today,” he said at a press conference.</p> <p>In her Facebook video, Hanson said it “absolutely disgusts me”. “This is why I am so anti-China – they are a country that says they want to grow to a stage where they will control and that’s exactly what they’re doing,” she said.</p> <p>She said 20 per cent of products Australia imports “we can’t buy from anywhere else but China”. “Our shelves are full of Chinese products because we’ve stopped our manufacturing industry,” she said.</p> <p>“We used to produce 40 per cent of our products here in Australia through manufacturing. Guess what, it’s only 6 per cent now, because we have allowed this through consecutive governments, Liberal and Labor, to bring products into Australia from other countries which has destroyed our own manufacturing industries."</p> <p>Hanson pleaded with Aussies to try to avoid products made in China “in every little way”.</p> <p>“Whether it’s the wrapping paper – I know you can actually go and buy it online from an Australian manufacturing company here”.</p> <p>She argued that would “put pressure on the Australian government” to support local manufacturing. “That’s the only way we can get out of this bloody mess, if not we’re going to allow China dictate to us every step of the way what we do because we’ve become so reliant on them,” she said.</p>

Money & Banking

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"Total disgrace": Why Woolies is facing more boycotts

<p><span>Woolworths customers have responded in fury after more stores transitioned into being completely cashless this week.</span><br /><br /><span>A trial was announced for 11 stores across Sydney and Melbourne earlier this year and now the grocer has since expanded the move to three more stores.</span><br /><br /><span>Five of the original 11 stores that have trialled cashless payments have experienced temporary closures, which mean that a total of nine Metro locations currently are enforcing mandatory digital payments.</span><br /><br /><span>Melbourne’s Bourke Street and Elizabeth Street Metro stores introduced cashless payments in July.</span><br /><br /><span>On Monday the Caulfield North and Yarraville stores did the same.</span><br /><br /><span>Sydney Metro stores on York and George Street in the city, as well as Manly, on the Northern Beaches, also made the transition in July.</span><br /><br /><span>Rosebery in Sydney’s south introduced the change on Monday.</span><br /><br /><span>Customers have been swift in slamming the new system which they say requires them to pay for their goods using the available EFTPOS machines.</span><br /><br /><span>One shopper said that she had been a loyal customer to the supermarket for over 20 years and would “shop elsewhere” if Woolies went cashless at any of its stores.</span><br /><br /><span>“Please consider what you are doing. Giving people the choice to pay with cash is and always will be essential in my view,” her post on the retailer’s Facebook page read.</span><br /><br /><span>Another shopper said the change was a disadvantage for disabled people, who they said only used cash because “they do not understand when they use a card they are actually spending money”.</span><br /><br /><span>“You are a total disgrace going card only. Apart from that a lot of older people only use cash,” they wrote.</span><br /><br /><span>Someone else labelled Woolworths as “the biggest bully out” due to its decisions</span><br /><br /><span>“I am boycotting Woolworths and any other business who will not accept my legal tender cash. I vow to never attend a Woolworths store again, and instead I will choose to trade with stores who respect me,” one other shopper declared in a post.</span><br /><br /><span>Other angry customers also argued that it was wrong for the supermarket to refuse cash, as it was “legal tender”.</span><br /><br /><span>Woolworths says the stores that were subject to a physical cash ban had already been experiencing payments that are predominantly cashless.</span><br /><br /><span>“We know that cash remains an important payment option for many of our customers and 99.14 per cent of our stores will still accept cash. That is all of our supermarkets and majority of our Metro stores,” a response from a Woolworths employee read.</span><br /><br /><span>Woolworths has said in a statement that the cashless was brought in to offer a seamless checkout experience “for busy inner-city customers”.</span><br /><br /><span>“We want Woolworths Metro to be the easiest place to pick up your next meal, top up your grocery shop or buy your next coffee,” a spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia.</span><br /><br /><span>“To help make shopping as seamless as possible for busy inner-city customers we’re trialling card only transactions in a handful of Metro stores in CBD locations.</span><br /><br /><span>“We will closely monitor the feedback from our customers as we trial this new offer.”</span></p>

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“Unacceptable!”: Shoppers threaten to boycott Coles over hot cross buns

<p>Coles shoppers have threatened to boycott the supermarket over the sale of hot cross buns individually wrapped in plastic.</p> <p>Melbourne woman Caroline Lambert shared a photo of “loose fruit hot cross buns” packaged in plastic boxes on Wednesday.</p> <p>“This plastic-fest was spotted in a Coles supermarket in Melbourne Central this morning. Super depressing Coles,” Ms Lambert captioned the post.</p> <p>“Your customers want you to do better with your environmental responsibilities.”</p> <p>It didn’t take long to spark a response, with over 15,000 people joining the “Leave It On The Shelf” campaign, promising to boycott Coles and other stores over their excessive use of plastic.</p> <p>After seeing Ms Lambert’s post, low-carbon charity 1 Million Women announced it was relaunching the anti-plastic campaign on Saturday.</p> <p>“We’re bringing back our Leave It On The Shelf campaign. We’re all pledging to leave plastic packaged fruit and veg on the shelf to show supermarkets that this sort of this is unacceptable!” the charity wrote on Facebook.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8cQODigvFI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8cQODigvFI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">This plastic-fest was spotted @colessupermarkets in Melbourne Central this morning. Super depressing Coles. Your customers want you to do better with your environmental responsibilities 😡🤯🤢🌏 #waronwasteau #waronwaste #zerowaste #environment #singleuse #environmentalshamefiles</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/lambertion/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Caroline Lambert</a> (@lambertion) on Feb 11, 2020 at 1:20pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Maybe we need to include hot cross buns!”</p> <p>Many have taken to social media to slam Coles.</p> <p>“I’ve shopped at Coles for 35 years but this is driving me away,” one woman wrote on the supermarkets Facebook page.</p> <p>“It might take more effort but I will abandon Coles and Woolies if you don’t lift your game. Shame on you.”</p> <p>Another woman wrote: “Pretty disappointed at Coles for this overuse of single use plastic! How ridiculous!”</p> <p>After one woman accused Coles of “over-packaging” on Twitter, the company said it was “making every effort to minimise packaging as much as possible”.</p> <p>Speaking to<span> </span><em>Daily Mail Australia</em>, a spokeswoman from Coles said: “We have placed the single buns in recyclable packaging so that we can give customers the option of buying a single hot cross bun.</p> <p>“The recyclable packaging keeps them fresh in stores where we don’t have single item display units where customers can pick them up using tongs.”</p> <p>“The packaging is recyclable in kerbside recycling bins. While this is not how our hot cross buns are generally packaged, to offer convenience a small number of stores have packed buns in this way.</p> <p>“We are constantly reviewing our packaging to make it more environmentally friendly.”</p>

Food & Wine

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Call to boycott Coles: Drought Minister appalled as supermarket giant fails to help dairy farmers

<p>Drought Minister David Littleproud has called on Coles customers to boycott the supermarket giant after the supermarket failed to pass on a levy for struggling dairy farmers.</p> <p>Littleproud called out the supermarket’s “low act” after the supermarket failed to not fully pass on a 10-cent drought levy on milk to dairy farmers.</p> <p>Coles agreed to pay dairy cooperative Norco $5.25 million after the Australian Competition and Consumers Commission noticed that they weren’t paying the levy.</p> <p>"They told their customers they were helping farmers, then tried keeping the money," he said on Sunday to<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/coles-minister-blasts-supermarket-on-milk-drought-levy/77cafc74-4207-4812-aa5f-ff3cdef609eb" target="_blank">9News</a></em>.</p> <p>"Coles has shown its true colours and needs to put things right."</p> <p>Littleproud is now saying customers should boycott Coles until they place a 20-cent levy on all dairy products.</p> <p>"Coles should now lead the way and put at least 20 cents a litre right across its dairy range, not just on milk to show they really do care about dairy farmers," he said.</p> <p>"They owe it to dairy farmers and the public for failing to live up to their promises."</p> <p>The ACCC claims that Coles did not raise its payment to Norco, which is the organisation who owns the chain’s own-branded milk by the 10 cents a litre it claimed.</p> <p>Coles disagreed with the ACCC’s decision but agreed to the payments in order to avoid an “unnecessary dispute”.</p> <p>People are furious about the news that Coles aren’t paying the farmers as promised.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">so <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Coles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Coles</a> supermarket chain asked people to pay an extra 10 per litre for it's 'home brand' milk, telling customers that it would pass that money on to 'drought stricken farmers'. They actually passed on 3.5 cents and pocketed the other 6.5 cents themselves. <br />Isn't that fraud?🤔</p> — We're not going to take it any more !! (@DavidHuett) <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidHuett/status/1202470948365983744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">5 December 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Coles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Coles</a> it turns out have been lying to Australians. The extra 10c per litre they charged for milk and claimed to be going back to Australian dairy farmers, DIDN'T - now there's a surprise! Farmers ended up with 3.5c (1.5c after costs). Appalling behaviour from Coles.</p> — John Little (@johnlittle) <a href="https://twitter.com/johnlittle/status/1202702472688521216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">5 December 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">Utterly outrageous and totally believable at the same time. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Coles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Coles</a> 'Pay More And We'll Give It To Struggling Farmers Milk' was, 'Thanks, Actually We'll Keep That Cash Milk'. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/auspol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#auspol</a> <a href="https://t.co/a0CrGVa2y3">https://t.co/a0CrGVa2y3</a></p> — Dan Ziffer (@danziffer) <a href="https://twitter.com/danziffer/status/1202429529165185024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">5 December 2019</a></blockquote> <p>Others questioned whether or not the donations that they made to the Coles “Farmer relief” fundraisers were going to those who really needed it.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">I made a donation over the counter at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/coles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#coles</a> to their farmers relief fundraiser. Who’s to say the farmers will ever see it?</p> — jenni zadel (@JenniZadel) <a href="https://twitter.com/JenniZadel/status/1202424276697010177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">5 December 2019</a></blockquote>

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How Scorsese cinema boycott will shape the future of movies

<p>Cinema has always been a medium in crisis. After the so-called golden age of Hollywood came television: why go to the movies when you can sit in the comfort of your home, watching recycled movies in letterbox format? Yet cinemas adapted and survived.</p> <p>This week, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/nov/07/why-martin-scorseses-the-irishman-wont-be-coming-to-a-cinema-near-you">major cinema chains</a> said they would not run Martin Scorsese’s upcoming film <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1302006/">The Irishman</a> because Netflix - who partially funded production and own distribution rights - were restricting its theatre run to four weeks before it hit small screens.</p> <p>The news signals a looming threat to cinema as we know it.</p> <h2>Big screen blues</h2> <p>Television made movies a commodity audiences could consume on their own terms. Yet cinema survived. In fact, it became a global mass cultural medium in the late 1970s and in the <a href="https://blog.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/very-short-history-of-cinema/">multiplexes</a> of the 1980s.</p> <p>Even the turbulent digital turn that brought cinema to a second crisis point in the early 2000s was navigated by the major Hollywood studios with the rebirth of the blockbuster in pristine form: <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0499549/?ref_=nv_sr_2?ref_=nv_sr_2">Avatar</a> (2009) in stereoscopic 3-D, the high-tech Marvel <a href="https://hbr.org/2019/07/marvels-blockbuster-machine">cinematic universe</a>.</p> <p>This is all to say that cinema, for the time being, is alive and well.</p> <p>But shrinking diversity in cinema offerings - Scorsese is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/nov/05/martin-scorsese-superhero-marvel-movies-debate-sadness">no Marvel fan</a> - has forced even big name directors to seek funding from alternative sources. This is especially necessary when their movie <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/21/business/media/netflix-scorsese-the-irishman.html">costs US$159 million</a> (A$230 million) to make. Enter television streaming giant Netflix.</p> <h2>Are you talking to me?</h2> <p>The Irishman, Scorsese’s eagerly anticipated gangster epic, opened this week in a number of independent <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com.au/the-irishman-australian-cinemas-2019-11">Australian cinemas</a>.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WHXxVmeGQUc?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span class="caption">The Irishman tells the story of war veteran Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) who worked as a hitman alongside Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino).</span></p> <p>Scorsese is perhaps America’s greatest living auteur, the director of films including <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075314/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1">Taxi Driver</a> (1976), <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081398/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Raging Bull</a> (1980), <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099685/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Goodfellas</a> (1990), and <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112641/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Casino</a> (1995).</p> <p>But what makes The Irishman unlike any other Scorsese film is that it is being distributed by Netflix. After its short theatre run it will be distributed to our homes, where it will do its major business.</p> <p>In February, the tension between Netflix and theatrical distributors escalated with the nomination of Alfonso Cuarón’s Netflix-distributed <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6155172/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2">Roma</a> for a Best Picture Oscar. Director Steven Spielberg subsequently <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/03/steven-spielbergs-netflix-fears/556550/">declared</a> a Netflix film might “deserve an Emmy, but not an Oscar”.</p> <p>A Netflix production – whether David Fincher’s monumental longform series, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5290382/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Mindhunter</a>, or Scorsese’s The Irishman – was television and therefore not cinema.</p> <h2>Goodfellas or bad guys?</h2> <p>Netflix represents a very real threat to theatrically screened cinema and its distribution apparatus, which is why several large cinema chains in the US (and, indeed, Australia) are boycotting The Irishman.</p> <p>While Netflix has consistently produced high quality content either through internal production or by acquiring and distributing titles, its assimilation of an auteur picture – a Scorsese gangster epic, no less - signals an aggressive move into the once sacrosanct domain of cinema entertainment.</p> <p>One wonders: if Scorsese capitulates to the economic strictures of the contemporary studio system, what will independent filmmakers do? How will low budget features be funded in an era in which Netflix colonises the large and small-scale productions alike?</p> <p><iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SshqfhmmtSE?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <span class="caption">Scorsese has directed many of the greatest characters of modern cinema.</span></p> <p>Netflix is not cinema, but neither is it television. Directors such as Spielberg struggle to understand that the new media entertainment regime is far removed from the projection (theatre) or broadcast (television) media environment of a predigital era.</p> <p>Instead of declaring a Netflix production unworthy of an Oscar, we could invert this measure: perhaps it is the Oscar that is increasingly outmoded as an artistic and cultural mark of value.</p> <h2>‘The End’, roll credits</h2> <p>The digital economic currents that carry Netflix intuitively seek expansion into proximate markets, and cinema is a natural fit. Netflix’s move into cinema distribution – with Scorsese at the helm – is therefore a smart negotiation. Even if Scorsese is an unwilling participant, it sets a clear precedent.</p> <p>It seems unlikely that cinema will end in any formal sense, at least within the next few decades.</p> <p>But a Netflix-distributed Scorsese film gives us cause to lament the ailing cinema experience. Christopher Nolan’s <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5013056/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1">Dunkirk</a> (2017) exemplified cinema’s ability to assault us with big screen images and jolt our bodies with a powerful soundscape. Only a grand technological scale can provide this kind of visceral experience.</p> <p>And yet, like Scorsese, I’m tired of Marvel. I’m tired of the rigidity of formulaic narrative and image structures intrinsic to the contemporary studio system. I’m disappointed at Hollywood’s capitulation to an instrumental economic model. Could a studio have produced The Irishman? They had a chance, and they <a href="https://variety.com/2019/film/news/theater-chief-blasts-netflix-over-handling-of-martin-scorseses-irishman-its-a-disgrace-1203390726/">turned it down</a>.</p> <p>Hollywood - and media entertainment structures more generally - will need to find a way for the big and small screen distributors to get along in order to keep the dynasty alive.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/126598/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: http://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>Written by <span>Bruce Isaacs, Senior Lecturer in Film Studies, University of Sydney</span>. Republished with permission of </em><a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/pass-the-popcorn-scorsese-cinema-boycott-will-shape-the-future-of-movies-126598" target="_blank"><em>The Conversation</em></a><em>. </em></p>

Movies

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Tarantino has a questionable record in the #MeToo context – so should we boycott his new film?

<p><em>This story contains spoilers for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.</em></p> <p>While promoting Once Upon a Time in Hollywood at the Cannes Film Festival, filmmaker Quentin Tarantino was asked why Margot Robbie’s character – murdered actress Sharon Tate – was given so few lines. An “angry-looking Tarantino”, as reported the ABC, curtly replied: “<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-23/tarantino-snaps-at-reporter-over-question-about-margot-robbie/11141352">Well, I just reject your hypothesis</a>.”</p> <p>Tate’s implied lack of voice and Tarantino’s refusal to address the extreme violence against women in the film has renewed discussions about his representations and treatment of women on screen.</p> <p>The #MeToo movement and cancel culture have shifted the way we consume media. So what does this mean for Tarantino and his depictions of violence?</p> <p><strong>25 bloody years on the big screen</strong></p> <p>Tarantino found instant acclaim with his debut Reservoir Dogs in 1992. Two years later, Pulp Fiction solidified his cult status. Over his 25-year career, he has directed nine films spanning western to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jan/11/blaxploitation-shaft-foxy-brown-film">blaxploitation</a> to samurai. Across genres, his films are united by the protagonist’s quest for justice and bloody vengeance.</p> <p>Tarantino is notorious for his stylised and hyperreal violence: macabre, shocking, and comical. When Pulp Fiction first came out, I was a first-year undergraduate studying and making films. I revelled in Tarantino’s approach to storytelling and the film’s originality.</p> <p>Tarantino was the new King of Cool, and Pulp Fiction heralded a new era of filmmaking. Discussions about the violence mainly revolved around the subject of style and Tarantino’s brand of humour.</p> <p>25 years later I’m analysing Tarantino again. But now it’s in the context of one of the largest social activist movements in contemporary history.</p> <p><strong>Contemporary controversies</strong></p> <p>Tarantino has come under the #MeToo spotlight mainly because of his close partnership with Miramax and The Weinstein Company, both co-founded by Harvey Weinstein (currently facing multiple counts of rape and sexual assault), and the distributors of most of Tarantino’s films.</p> <p>The controversy, however, goes deeper than guilt by Weinstein-association: Tarantino has admitted being a knowing bystander. In <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/19/movies/tarantino-weinstein.html">a 2017 interview</a>, Tarantino said: “There was more to it than just the normal rumors, the normal gossip. It wasn’t secondhand. I knew [Weinstein] did a couple of these things.”</p> <p>Tarantino also faced allegations of misconduct by Uma Thurman, who rose to fame in Pulp Fiction and starred in Kill Bill: Volumes 1 &amp; 2.</p> <p>In 2018, Thurman <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/03/opinion/sunday/this-is-why-uma-thurman-is-angry.html">spoke about a car crash</a> during the filming of Kill Bill: Volume 1 which caused long-term neck and knee injuries. Despite airing her concerns about safety, Tarantino convinced her to perform the stunt.</p> <p>Tarantino has <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/02/quentin-tarantino-uma-thurman-regrets">since admitted</a> his wrongdoing.</p> <p>This is an example of the hypocrisy in Hollywood: Kill Bill was about female empowerment, but its star was being coerced by the director and pressured by the studio.</p> <p>Days after Thurman’s interview, an <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/quentin-tarantino-roman-polanski-rape-young-girl-sex-minor-uma-thurman-director-a8197811.html">audio recording</a> resurfaced from 2003 where Tarantino defended director Roman Polanski’s sexual abuse of a 13-year-old victim in 1977. Polanski was 43 at the time.</p> <p>Tarantino can be heard saying: “she was down with it. [ … ] I don’t believe it’s rape. I mean not at 13. Not – not for these 13-year-old party girls.”</p> <p>Alongside the era of #MeToo we have seen a rise in “<a href="https://oracle.newpaltz.edu/culture-critique-the-power-of-cancel-culture/">cancel culture</a>”, where questionable views and actions of influential figures are called out, and audiences are encouraged to withdraw support. Calls for “cancelling” Tarantino <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/jul/23/cancel-quentin-tarantino-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood">are growing</a>.</p> <p>He may be a groundbreaking filmmaker still breaking records at the box office – but is this enough for us to overlook his indiscretions?</p> <p><strong>What happens in the cinema, stays in the cinema?</strong></p> <p>Should we stop watching films connected with problematic individuals? What do we gain from cancelling the works of Tarantino, Polanski, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/may/13/ronan-farrow-interview-woody-allen-harvey-weinstein-me-too">Woody Allen</a> and <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2019/01/23/bohemian-rhapsody-director-bryan-singer-faces-new-sexual-abuse-allegations_a_23651119/">Bryan Singer</a> from our collective consciousness?</p> <p>Should judgement of a movie be separate to our judgement of the people who create them? Can we judge a movie separate to our judgement of the people who create them?</p> <p>During a screening of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood my mind drifted to these matters.</p> <p>I wondered if Tarantino still had the same admiration for Polanski as he did in 2003; whether he still holds those skewed ideas about rape.</p> <p>I was irritated that Emile Hirsch was cast as Jay Sebring - Tate’s close friend and former lover. Hirsch <a href="https://variety.com/2015/film/news/emile-hirsch-guilty-assault-15-days-jail-1201571705/">plead guilty</a> to assaulting a female studio executive in 2015.</p> <p>At a time when abusers are being publicly denounced on social media, did Tarantino have any reservations about this casting choice? Was it even an issue for him?</p> <p>Despite these questions, I could not suppress my laughter and gasps of gleeful shock at the spectacle of violence in the film’s climax.</p> <p>And it is violent. The most striking death is when one of the female members of the Manson Family is maimed in the face by a can of dog food, before being fried with a flamethrower.</p> <p>Over the course of the film, my thoughts continually wandered between the story on screen to the story off screen. Real world politics kept intruding into my viewing experience.</p> <p><strong>To boycott, or not to boycott</strong></p> <p>I left the cinema ruminating on the confusing range of emotions and responses I had, ready to unpack how the baggage of Tarantino’s opinions and treatment of female characters and cast members have influenced the way I read Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.</p> <p>Boycotting a film can send a strong message – not least of all to the studio’s bottom line. But there is also benefit to viewing these films, and using them as talking points for why we find them problematic.</p> <p>Watching Tarantino now, I still have immense respect for the artistry of his films and their aura of detached coolness. They captured the zeitgeist of a Generation X that was desperate for something different.</p> <p>But knowing some of the troubling issues surrounding a production and the filmmaker has added another layer of awareness and critique. It has given the films a different sort of relevance for the times. The questions I ask don’t look the same as those I asked before.</p> <p>Tarantino isn’t making cinema in the same world as he once was – but then again, I’m not watching it in the same world, either.</p> <p><em>Written by Christina Lee. Republished with permission of </em><a href="https://theconversation.com/tarantino-has-a-questionable-record-in-the-metoo-context-so-should-we-boycott-his-new-film-121985"><em>The Conversation</em></a><em>. </em></p>

Movies

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Shoppers boycott Coles' latest Little Shop collectibles: "It beggars belief"

<p>A group of mums are calling for a boycott of Coles’ Little Shop collectables as the promotion coincides with Plastic Free July.</p> <p>Many Little Shop collectables fans were excited when the supermarket giant confirmed the news that yes, their second Little Shop range would be coming on July 17.</p> <p>There is a range of 30 mini items available, and will be sold with a collector’s case, mini trolleys, basket and aprons. There are also new additions to the Little Shop which include a toy cash register and a Coles replica truck.</p> <p>However, Coles has been slammed since the announcement for giving out “plastic junk” and a petition on change.org has been started to ban the toys. The petition has attracted almost 500 signatures.</p> <p>“Are you gobsmacked that Coles has brought out a new range of ‘Little Shop’ toys during Plastic Free July?” the petition says.</p> <p>“Wow ... Coles ... just wow ... you have just proved you really do not care for our children’s future by bringing these so called ‘collectables’ back.</p> <p>“This is when most people are doing their best to bring their own bags, choosing less packaging on their foods and saying no to straws. Here you are handing out plastic junk that will end in landfill or in our oceans.”</p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7828598/coles-little-shop.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/0a11dd778ef94f14b92be55138c24e08" /></p> <p>The petition has said that the Little Shop collectables are a “slap in the face” for all people who care about the planet.</p> <p>“It’s time to think of our children and what their future will look like with all this unnecessary plastic,” it reads.</p> <p>The petition comes after a woman found one of the plastic toys on a beach in Bali in November last year. Another man found one of the collectables washed up on Buddina Beach in Queensland in August 2018.</p> <p>Coles told <a rel="noopener" href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/absolute-joke-man-outraged-coles-little-shop-plastic-washed-beach-062450908.html" target="_blank">Yahoo News Australia</a> at the time that the collectables used plastic that’s fully recyclable, including its packaging.</p> <p>“The Little Shop campaign only runs for a limited time and customers are able to recycle the wrappers at their nearest store through our in-store REDCycle program,” a spokesperson said.</p> <p>“For Coles Online deliveries, mini collectable packaging can be returned to the driver, and recycled through our REDCycle program.”</p> <p>Coles also responded to a woman’s Facebook post on its page, where the woman asked the supermarket giant to not launch the Little Shop promotion.</p> <p>“The Little Shop mini collectables are designed for customers to keep and not dispose of and customers can choose whether they would like to collect or not,” Coles replied.</p> <p>“Last year we saw customers collecting and swapping with their friends, family and colleagues, and they really valued the minis as collectables to be kept in the future.”</p>

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Australia Post boycott: Why this Aussie grandmother drove her Christmas presents across Australia

<p>A woman so fed up with the services of Australia Post has decided to deliver her grandchildren’s Christmas presents herself by driving across the country, after making a decision to boycott the postal service.</p> <p>Mandy Hickman has relied on the delivery company for a long time, but after a bad experience that occurred recently, she has sworn off Australia Post completely.</p> <p>A month prior, Mandy was anticipating a delivery from the US which contained important supplements and vitamins, but instead of receiving her parcel, she had gotten her hands on another one.</p> <p>“A parcel came to my place, addressed to the wrong address. I opened it, then I got my glasses and realised it wasn’t my parcel,” Ms Hickman told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.9now.com.au/a-current-affair/2017" target="_blank"><em>A Current Affair</em></a>.</p> <p>After contacting the number on the package, she discovered that the intended recipient lived a few streets away.</p> <p>The two women spoke on the phone, and the other woman confirmed that Ms Hickman’s parcel was delivered to her by accident, but when she went to exchange parcels, the woman took her own package but never gave Ms Hickman hers.</p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height:0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7822353/lady.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f0797886484e4103b65d09edf53350f7" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Photo: <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/2018/12/06/16/01/queensland-grandmother-boycotts-australia-post-over-dodgy-delivery">A Current Affair</a></em></p> <p>Australia Post gave confirmation that the two parcels had been mixed up.</p> <p>The addresses had the same home number, same suburb but different street names.</p> <p>Australia Post has made five attempts to retrieve the parcel but has not been successful so far.</p> <p>Ms Hickman has also asked the lady multiple times to hand over her parcel but has had no luck.</p> <p>But despite the drama surrounding her package, Ms Hickman was more furious over the fact that Australia Post only offered to pay $50 compensation for goods that cost $650.</p> <p>“You don’t get any compensation for what the goods are worth, what they actually cost and that’s not fair,” said Ms Hickman.</p> <p>Now, after being so exasperated with the delivery service, Ms Hickman is ready to drive from Queensland to Victoria to deliver her grandchildren’s presents herself.</p> <p>And turns out, she isn’t the only one who has complained.</p> <p>Australia Post has proved to be so unreliable that <em>A Current Affair</em> is constantly being bombarded with emails about those who have been left empty handed due to the service.</p> <p>One delivery driver was accused of throwing packages over the fence, squeezing oversized parcels through mail boxes and leaving packages that required signatures.</p> <p>Australia Post has now decided to fully compensate Ms Hickman after being contacted by <em>A Current Affair</em>.</p> <p>In a statement, they said:</p> <p>“It is always disappointing in any instance when we fail to deliver for a customer. This year our hardworking posties and delivery drivers will deliver more than 3 billion parcels and letters effectively and on time, including millions of items in time for Christmas.</p> <p>“We've spoken to both customers to express our disappointment in the way their complaints were handled and apologised. We're working with them on prompt resolutions, with full compensation being organised for the lost international parcel.  </p> <p>“On our busiest day this Christmas we will deliver close to 3 million parcels across the country and we've hired almost 3,000 additional workers to make sure this Christmas is a success.</p> <p>“We encourage customers with any enquiries about their mail delivery to contact us on 13 POST or online."</p> <p>Have you had any bad experiences with Australia Post? Let us know in the comments below.</p>

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