Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci has refused to answer one question about the Australia Day merch scandal.
The supermarket has come under significant heat after it was revealed last week it would stop selling Australia Day merchandise due to lack of sales.
Breaking his silence by appearing on Today on Wednesday, Banducci faced a barrage of questions from the hosts trying to work out if there was more to the decision than just business.
“So you’re not you’re not anti Australia today as a company?,” Stefanovic asked.
“Karl, we are a very proud Australian company. We’ve been around for 100 years. We have 178,000 hard working team members who are going to be in store doing the right thing for our customers on Australia Day, and we’re passionate about this country,” Mr Banducci said.
“But you’re not anti Australia Day?” Stefanovic asked again.
In a slight shift of tone, Banducci conceded the day “means different things to everyone” and the supermarket leadership support Australians to commemorate the day in whatever way they wish.
He added that while customers won’t be able to buy the merchandise, stores around the country will be decorated in “green and gold” to commemorate the national day.
“You must have serious regrets about this?” Karl drilled in.
“I think we could clearly have done a better job of explaining our decision, that’s why I’m here,” he said.
“I do feel anxious about the impact that this is having on our team. They are proud, hard working Australians, and for them to be seen as anti-Australian or woke is fundamentally unfair.”
Mr Banducci said the decision was made almost 12 months ago when the supermarket’s leadership reflected on Australia Day sales.
Liberal senator Matt Canavan joined the morning show later in the morning to respond to the supermarket boss’ comments.
“Brad is a man under pressure, Woolworths is under pressure and thank you to all Australians for standing up against these unelected corporate elites who think they can
dictate at what should happen in this country,” he said.
Mr Canavan said he believes the supermarket is being “a little bit duplicitous” and are “clearly trying to make a political statement” about the day.
