The Australian Restaurant and Cafes Association (Arca) has urged hospitality staff affected by the allegations of harassment, discrimination or unsafe workplaces to come forward after board member Anton Forte resigned.
Forte, who is the chief executive of high profile bar and restaurant group Swillhouse, tendered his resignation from Arca after the Sydney Morning Herald published an investigation alleging staff sexual assault and harassment had taken place within the group’s venues. Forte was not alleged to be involved in any misconduct.
Wes Lambert, the chief executive of Arca, told Guardian Australia: “Forte has stepped down from the board and that is a permanent situation at the moment.”
Lambert said that, “the industry has rallied around our response – which is zero tolerance”, after the Herald’s reports.
“We encourage anyone who has been affected since the news broke to reach out to relevant authorities,” he said.
When asked how recent changes to the Sex Discrimination Act, which place a duty on businesses to prevent sex discrimination and harassment, had affected the hospitality industry, Lambert said it had “welcomed” it.
“Ultimately the overwhelming majority of the industry does the right thing and welcomed changes to the act. We will come together as an industry to ensure workplaces are safe for employees.”
He said Arca provides resources on ensuring safe working environments to any and all restaurants and cafes around Australia, to ensure these businesses comply with the relevant legislation.
“Ultimately, for the entire industry, we never condone sexual harassment, discrimination or unsafe workplaces,” he said.
In a statement to the Herald, Swillhouse group said: “It brings us pain and regret knowing that there have been instances where some of our employees have felt unsupported, unheard or at risk. In recent years, Swillhouse has made concerted efforts to better support the well-being of our workforce and create a more inclusive and safer workplace.”
Gourmet Traveller, a prominent magazine within the Australian food industry, made the decision to remove Swillhouse’s Hubert, the much-awarded French restaurant in Sydney’s CBD, from its annual restaurant guide due to the serious allegations published by the Sydney Morning Herald.
In a statement, the Gourmet Traveller editor, Joanna Hunkin, wrote: “This is not the first time we have taken such action. Over the last five years, several establishments have been omitted from our Guide and wider Gourmet Traveller coverage in the face of concerns they may not meet our standards of ethical workplace behaviour.”
“The print edition of the magazine has already been published, featuring Restaurant Hubert in the NSW Top 25 list,” Hunkin wrote. “However, it will be removed from all digital editions of the Guide.”
Gourmet Traveller declined to provide further comment to Guardian Australia.
Next month, Australia’s Sex Discrimination commissioner, Dr Anna Cody, will be conducting an in-person listening session with members of Sydney’s hospitality workforce, in partnership with food and wine advocacy organisation Women and Revolution, as part of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Speaking from Experience project.
“The consultations focus on workers who are most likely targeted by perpetrators, yet often not included in policy, research, and resources on workplace sexual harassment,” a spokesperson for the AHRC said. “This includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culturally and racially marginalised communities, LGBTIQ+ workers, people with a disability, young workers, and other marginalised groups.”
Guardian Australia has approached Swillhouse for comment.
