Over the past week, Sydney’s hospitality scene has been rocked by serious allegations within the Swillhouse group. If you’ve been following the news, you’ve likely heard the disturbing stories: sexual harassment, misogyny and assault. The details are appalling but, sadly, not all that surprising for anyone who knows the industry. The question now is, what do we do about it?
The hospitality industry is truly the beating heart of our communities. While workplace sexual harassment has dominated headlines all year, nothing has sparked as much conversation among my friends as the recent Swillhouse allegations. For hardworking restaurant owners like many in my family, their businesses are more than just places to eat—they’re a source of pride, built from passion and years of dedication.
It’s sadly no secret that sexual harassment of varying forms exists in hospitality. The fast-paced, high-pressure environment of bars and restaurants can blur the lines between what’s acceptable and what’s not. The vulnerability of groups such very young workers, migrants and refugees often gets left out of the conversation.
These are folks who are often in low-paying, insecure jobs, making them easy targets for exploitation. They may feel like they have no choice but to put up with harassment because they can’t afford to lose their job or risk their visa status. This power imbalance is a huge part of the problem, and it needs to be addressed if we’re serious about making the industry safer for everyone.
So, where do we go from here? One place to look for guidance is the Australian music industry, which recently faced its own reckoning with sexual harassment and bullying. After a wave of similar allegations, the music industry came together to commission an independent review of its culture.
The result was a report called Raising Their Voices. It highlighted through robust evidence serious harm occurring in the industry and made clear recommendations for systemic change. The Government committed to supporting the music industry in implementing the report’s recommendations. This includes backing the creation of a federal Centre for Arts and Entertainment Workplaces, which will help enforce industry compliance with new codes of conduct.
Starting with an independent review will uncover the full extent of the problem and come up with practical, actionable solutions. A cohesive industry-wide approach to tackling sexual harassment in hospitality is necessary because it gets to the heart of the problem, aiming for real, lasting change rather than just quick fixes or isolated efforts. When the entire industry comes together, it sets a clear, consistent standard that every business has to follow, so there’s no room for anyone to slip through the cracks.
This approach means creating policies and guidelines and accountability mechanisms that make sense for the unique challenges of hospitality—whether it’s the fast-paced nature of the job, high rate of casual employment, the diverse mix of workers, or the constant interaction with customers. Importantly, safe and effective ways for workers to report issues without fear of retaliation are required. And because it involves everyone, from top managers to frontline staff, the solutions are practical and can be applied across the board, from hatted restaurants to local cafes.
The allegations against Swillhouse are a wake-up call for the entire industry. But if hospitality leaders are serious about change, now is the time to act. Real change will require commitment from everyone involved—industry leaders, workers, unions, and the government. By coming together and committing to a deep, industry-wide cultural shift, we can start to build a workplace where respect, safety, and equality aren’t just aspirational goals but the standard.
The aim should be simple: making sure that every worker in the hospitality industry, no matter who they are or where they come from, can do their job without fear of harassment or discrimination.