DEAR Jasminda,

WHAT do you reckon about boycotting major retailers who won’t sell Australia Day merchandise?

Asking for a friend.

Mr Daryl Hutton

Dear Daryl,

Australia Day paraphernalia has never made a lot of sense to me.

Without entering the argument of whether the date should be changed, I’m not sure how Australian it is to buy mass-produced plastic made in China with all the associated shipping and processing costs.

I mean, if you consider what you’re waving around – a bit of polyester that will end up buried in our ‘golden soil’ before finding its way into the ocean (we are, after all, ‘girt by sea’) – it might take the shine off your cheap purchase.

If our esteemed pollies want to boycott the major supermarkets, there seems to be a few more pressing reasons to do so.

Off the top of my head, let’s say, selling imported farmed prawns instead of supporting our local prawn fishermen, thereby putting Australia’s ocean biosecurity at risk.

Not paying Australian farmers adequately and simultaneously making huge profits while raising prices.

Looping music so that you find yourself singing along to the lyrics of Total Eclipse of the Heart, hence forgetting the Vegemite and lamb chops.

Getting rid of most of the cashiers who always asked how your day was and replacing them with self-checkout cameras that make you look like Shrek on Benzos.

Insisting on persevering with plastic produce bags and veggies wrapped in plastic when there are simple alternatives.

Now those and many other things may be worth boycotting our major supermarkets for, but let’s not take a cheap political shot when supermarkets are simply responding to a decrease in consumer interest for schlocky imported crap.

Thanks for asking, Daryl.

I hope it provides some clarity for your friend.

Carpe diem,
Jasminda.