A Damning Investigation by the ABC Alleges a Culture of Sexual Abuse and Drug Use at Merivale Venues

The ABC has published a stunning report, based on months of investigations, alleging a toxic culture of sexual abuse, misogyny and drug use among staff and patrons at the major Australian hospitality group Merivale. The report alleges that following interviews with dozens of former staff at the juggernaut hospitality company, a picture emerged of unsafe work environments for women, drug use by both staff and patrons that was not only tolerated but encouraged, and failures of management that downplayed or dismissed allegations of sexual abuse and rape by staff.

The ABC report also cited complaints from two female patrons — Jess Helinski and her unidentified friend — who claim they were mistaken for sex workers at Ivy nightclub and directed by staff to a VIP area to socialise with a group of men. When Helinski confirmed she and her friend were not sex workers, one of the male patrons allegedly told them: "You girls need to leave. I'm sorry, it's not safe for you in this situation." While an internal Merivale investigation found that CCTV footage failed to provide clear evidence of "untoward or inappropriate behaviour" by either staff or the male patrons, the matter is nonetheless being investigated by NSW police.

Jordan K Munns

Among the most shocking allegations from former Merivale staff is an account from a woman working at the Coogee Pavilion, who told the ABC that she was raped by a male colleague at his home in 2018. Despite informing her manager and Merivale HR about the assault, the woman, who requested her identity remain anonymous, continued to be rostered to work alongside her alleged rapist, as at the time she was unable to provide a police report.

Of her experience, the former staff member told the ABC: "It's not okay to think there could be people working there now that are going through the same thing, and I doubt HR's changed their processes, and it'll keep happening until someone says you need to change."

Another former Merivale employee, also speaking to the ABC anonymously, shared her experience of being inappropriately touched by male patrons while working a night shift at cocktail bar Hemmesphere in the Sydney CBD in 2021. She believes was tolerated because young female staff were encouraged to flirt with customers. Drug use was also common at Hemmesphere, according to the same former staff member. "The managers were fully aware of whatever kind of drugs were being done in the bathrooms. The managers themselves would be doing this in the bathrooms and they would be giving it to staff," she told the ABC.

When approached for comment by the ABC, Merivale issued a statement saying: "We have no record of the incidents that have been described. We are therefore unable to respond to what we consider to be unfair questions."

This latest report follows in the wake of a similar exposé by The Sydney Morning Herald and Good Food, published on Wednesday, August 21, which uncovered a culture of sexual abuse, normalised misogyny and failures of management at Swillhouse Group, who operate top Sydney venues including Restaurant Hubert and The Caterpillar Club. The fallout from that report resulted in Swillhouse cancelling its much-anticipated music and food festival Swillfest. Gourmet Traveller also removed Restaurant Hubert from the digital edition of their prestigious annual restaurant guide and Swillhouse Group CEO Anton Forte was forced to step down from his position on the board of the Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association.

One day after the Swillhouse report was published, Swillhouse Group issued an apology, saying: "While we cannot right the wrongs of the past, we acknowledge them and apologise for any hurt caused. We assure our people, our customers, our friends and our patrons that we currently have best practice policies and processes in place to ensure our people work in the safest possible environment today and tomorrow."

A follow-up article published by The Herald and Good Food on Thursday, August 22, written by journalist Dani Valent, alleged systemic failures across Australia's hospitality sector, representing "endemic" levels of widespread gender-based violence and sexual danger in the workplace.

If you need to speak to someone about an experience you have had or are seeking information, please contact 1800Respect on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800respect.org.au.