LISTEN: Retail crisis - up to 167 Target stores to close or rebrand in massive restructure, 1300 jobs at risk

In the latest crisis to hit Australia's struggling retail sector, the Wesfarmers conglomerate says it will either close or rebrand up to 167 Target stores. 

The massive restructure could see as many as 1,300 staff lose their jobs, at a time when the jobless rate is surging because of fallout from COVID19. 

The decision has sparked an extraordinary outburst from the Agriculture Minister David Littlerproud who says Australians should vote with their wallets. 

But ABC's Peter Ryan says Wesfarmers is taking hard decisions to reduce its exposure to commercial leases.