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Katter to Woolies: “Not Sundays, not in Gordonvale”
June 13, 2025
FEDERAL Member for Kennedy Bob Katter is calling on Cairns Regional Council and the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission to reject Woolworths' push for Sunday trading in Gordonvale, warning the move will be "the final nail in the coffin" for small, family-run businesses in the southern-Cairns suburb.
"I plead with every Australian to understand this. I know it's easy to go to the bigger store, and when you think "food", you think "Woolworths and Coles". But it's because you've been brainwashed; you see it on your TV over and over again: morning, noon and night.
"But, it's not just one more trading day. It's the beginning of the end for the independent shops that hold our communities together," Katter pleaded.
"We will tenaciously oppose and take down the names of anyone that pushes 7-day trade at Gordonvale Woolworths.
"Look, I understand. I'm a person who can hardly ever get to the shops 9 to 5 during the week. I come from the Mount Isa and Cloncurry area; I've been a miner working continuous shifts, and I'd deeply appreciate a service like that.
"But do I want to live in a society with only one person I can sell food to and buy food from? Well, I hate to break it to you, but that's what we're living in right now."
Mr Katter said the duopoly of Coles and Woolworths is rapidly turning Australia into a corporate monopoly state, with suburbs like Gordonvale the latest target.
"Let's be clear: this is not about community choice or convenience. It's about wiping out the last little guys still standing. The butcher, the bakery, the fruit stall on the side of the road – all gone, so we can hand more power to the supermarket duopoly.
"These supermarket giants can do whatever they like; they can force their staff to work incredible hours, not to mention they own the major political parties.
"But they may not have noticed, but the major parties can't even get 33 percent of the vote; people just won't vote for them anymore.
"I will personally fight tooth and nail, snake and goanna. It won't be the Marquess of Queensberry Rules here, and if I fail, well, I'll go down fighting. At least I can know that.
"Please, we are Australians, and this is un-Australian. This has got to be fought with fire."