The angry shopper who ambushed the chief executive of Woolworths at his local supermarket has been identified as a pro-Palestinian student activist who has drawn a link between Australia’s cost of living crisis and the conflict in Gaza.
Wollongong University student Megan Guy gained national attention after confronting Woolies chief executive Amanda Bardwell at a store in Warrawong, in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, on Tuesday.
She asked the CEO how he could “sleep at night” knowing that “millions” of working-class Australians were going hungry while Woolworths was making “huge corporate profits” during a cost-of-living crisis.
Ms Guy defended her actions during an appearance on Sky News on Wednesday, revealing she had been tipped off that Ms Bardwell was visiting the store.
“I am unapologetic about wanting to fight against oppression, genocide and the profit motive of big companies like Woolies and Coles,” she said.
“I just thought I’d take the opportunity to speak my mind to the new CEO and express the anger that I think millions of workers are facing right now against the profit motive that’s going on during the cost of living crisis.”
Ms Guy told Sky News presenter Kieran Gilbert there was a link between Australia’s cost of living crisis and its support for Israel.
“I think there is a relationship between the Albanian government providing support to a regime that is committing genocide and that wants to promote the interests of Australia’s imperialist connections, and a government that is overseeing one of the biggest attacks on living standards we have seen in decades,” he said.
Pro-Palestinian student activist Megan Guy (pictured) gained national attention after confronting Woolworths chief executive Amanda Bardwell at a store in Wollongong on Tuesday.
Megan Guy gained national media attention when she confronted Woolworths chief executive Amanda Bardwell (circled) at her local supermarket in Wollongong on Tuesday.
Gilbert asked Ms Guy if she regretted running eight-week pro-Palestine camps at her university, which led to Jewish students, staff and alumni experiencing antisemitism.
“But what do you think about those students who have nothing to do with the State of Israel? They are simply trying to get their education,” Gilbert asked.
The activist said there was a “false confusion” between a student being Jewish and supporting Israel.
“But that is clearly not the case for many, many young Jewish students,” he said.
‘That’s at the forefront of the pro-Palestine campaign in the United States: students who are Jewish and don’t agree that being Jewish means supporting a state that is committing genocide.
-So no, I wouldn’t make that confusion.
Ms Guy said there was a link between Australia’s cost of living crisis and its support for Israel.
“I think there is a relationship between the Albanian government providing support to a regime that is committing genocide and that wants to promote the interests of Australia’s imperialist connections, and a government that is overseeing one of the biggest attacks on living standards we have seen in decades,” he said.
The campaigner was in the spotlight on Tuesday after questioning Bardwell, who was visiting the store with legal director Bill Reid and Big W managing director Daniel Hake, about Woolworths’ profits.
“What do you have to say about the fact that your company is profiting from price gouging during the cost of living crisis?” he asked the CEO.
“Thank you for reaching out to us,” Ms. Bardwell responded.
“We’re doing everything we can to recognize that customers are having a hard time and make sure they can get great prices.”
Ms Guy accused the supermarket giant of being a “vulture capitalist company”.
“Your company just bought an entire supermarket chain through a vulture capitalist company, so you can keep making lots of money while the working class suffers. Can you sleep at night knowing that?” he asked.
Ms Bardwell said: “Our team is doing everything they can to help our customers. We understand that this is an incredibly difficult time.”
Ms Guy (pictured) was asked if she regretted running eight-week pro-Palestine camps at her university, which led to Jewish students experiencing antisemitism.
Many Australians praised Ms Guy for her efforts.
“I’m sick of paying almost $300 a week on groceries. That’s choosing the cheapest products. My fridge still looks half empty when I open the bag,” said one.
“I’m sure Coles and Woolworth’s management don’t have a cost of living crisis as they get bigger and bigger bonuses year on year,” a second person wrote.
A third commented: “Supermarkets are there to make huge profits. They don’t care about their customers, they never have.”
Ms Bardwell, a long-time Woolworths employee, was appointed as the supermarket giant’s new chief executive in February following the resignation of Brad Banducci.
The CEO has worked with Woolworths Group for 23 years, including as Chief Marketing Officer, and began her new role on 1 September 2024.
His new title will earn him $2.15 million a year, slightly less than Banducci’s base salary of $2.6 million.