There are several displacement stories in Welcome to Woop Woop which I believe all point towards the displacement of the Aboriginal people from their land with the coming of colonialism in Australia.
The American in the Outback
The first displacement is of an American in the harsh and unforgiving Australian Outback. This displacement complements the displacement of American culture to Australia shown via the pervasivness of guns, and the use of such Americana as, Rogers and Hammerstein, Barbie and classic Hollywood films.
The Miners Displaced from their hometown, Woop Woop.
The people of Woop Woop tell a story of displacement from their hometown of Woop Woop. Originally an Asbestos factory town, they were moved to the west coast when the plant was shut down. But they wanted to stay and eventually moved back to Woop Woop where they now earn a living by making and selling dog food (Woof Woof: Cobber Classic Dog Food) out of kangaroo carcasass found dead on the vast roads in the Outback.
The Aboriginal Displacement
The story of the people of Woop Woop must be read with regards to the Aboriginal past of the area. There are Aboriginal wall drawings around the town that warn of BIG RED the 20 foot tall kangaroo, and this may be seen as either the reason the Aboriginies don't live near Woop Woop or as a response to the white man being in the land in the first place. However Teddy is saved in the end by BIG RED. This is the completion of a transaction begun at the beginning of the film when Teddy lends an Aboriginal man some money. What is being said here? The Aboriginies should be paid for their land? and then everything would be allright. It could be seen as showing how the Aboriginal people have a unique link to the land as do the inhabitants of Woop Woop to their town. Taking away a towns livelyhood is like taking the land away from the Aboriginal people.
Although many of the reviewers ask their readers not to look for a social commentary in
Welcome to Woop Woop, it is possible to find slivers of meaning in terms
of a comment on the social situation in Australia. Stephan Elliott himself has said
that the main reason for making the film was a revisiting of the 'old' Australia,
an Australia populated by the ocker personality rather than, perhaps the American
Latte drinking personality of contemporary Australia. The use of American
iconography and the concentration on American culture in Welcome to Woop Woop
could represent a comment on the direction of Australian society. But this is
supposed to be a look back. Is it the invasion of Teddy the American and American
culture that is the downfall of Woop Woop? The role of Daddy'O is also important, a despot
of sorts who's power is obviously corrupt. Who is Daddy'O supposed to represent?
A clue comes in an Article by Steve Baker who points to
the "export of their profits overseas". This is why critics have found Woop Woop so confusing.
Daddy'O is corrupt, but at least he is loyal. But the film also seems to say, that
Woop Woop is on its way out and there are reasons for this. First corruption, and secondly because they
have ignored and mocked the very real Aboriginal link to this land, which is made real
by the appearance of BIG RED at the end of the film to help Teddy escape, seemingly at the benest of
the Aboriginal man who owed Teddy some money.
These ideas are not explicit, however, but through looking at the various links
outside of the film itself, some options can be opened up.