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Woolies’ Australia Day memorabilia blunder: But is it really that bad?

Jan 20, 2016

It’s sad that in 2016 one of our states can be forgotten but it’s true: Woolworths has been slammed for selling a hat that depicts Australia without its southernmost state, Tasmania.

Customers were quick to pick up on the mistake and have taken to their Facebook page to voice their disappointment about the geographically-inaccurate cap.

One customer, Mary said, “So Woollies, you have missed Tassie off your Australia Day caps? Didn’t you learn from the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane? Who is in Marketing? Be very ashamed. I’ll vote with my feet and take my business elsewhere”. Another said, “Hey Woolworths can you tell me if Tasmania is a part of Australia or not … Obviously Tasmania is not by your Australian day hats”.

Tasmanians have called the mistake ‘offensive’ and ‘cruel’ and were not impressed by their exclusion from the map, reported Channel Seven News.

The navy blue cap features the map of Australia, without Tasmania, a union jack and the southern cross embroidered on the front.

As a consequence, the supermarket chain has pulled the product from shelves. Woolworths told Channel Seven News in a statement that: ‘[We are] aware of the issue and in the process of withdrawing the product from our supermarket shelves.’

But this isn’t the first time the southern most state has been excluded from the Australian map – you might remember the 1982 Commonwealth Games when a giant map, made up of athletes, was broadcast to the world without, you guessed it, Tasmania attached.

Hopefully the next time a brand creates a product with the Australian map, they don’t forget to include Tassie.