In times of recession most people are trying to save money by only buying necessities such as food and fuel. This puts international grocery vendor Woolworths in front of many other wealthy companies and organizations, even including the Australian government.
While giving away large sums of money in the form of stimulus packages, the Australian government is losing money rapidly. Woolworths, however, is charging for its stimulus packages, like 5 gum and many other goods that can easily be found in any Woolworths store in Australia. Not even having to employ many human workers with their self serve checkouts. Woolworths is the largest retailer in Australia. Even its Discount department store chain Big W is the largest of its type.
Woolworths Limited owns both Dick Smith and Tandy Electronics, both International electronics retailers, both two of the largest electronics retailers in Australia. Woolworths Limited also owns 2 liquor retailers: Dan Murphy's and BWS, BWS having at least 600 stores nationwide, and Dan Murphy's having almost 100 considerably larger stores. Woolworths Limited owns 75% of BLH group, a hotel and liquor store operator. Woolworths is gaining money rapidly.
So when Woolworths Limited proposed to buy the Australian government for $200,000,000,000,000, many Government officials gulped with indecision.
Woolworths is rich, but what would they do with a whole country? Exempt themselves from taxes? Take control of banks? Get rid of Medicare? These and many more possibilities are what's worrying the Government Officials.
While the Government is desperate, are they really willing to sell themselves?
Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull says
"Why can't (they) play their own game, they can easily buy Coles Myer for half that price, but the Australian government..."
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is confused and indecisive claiming that
"No world leader should have to face a decision like this."
