Following Tuesday’s bombshell Merivale investigation,chief executiveJustin Hemmestold staff he was “devastated” by the allegations of wrongdoing at his venues published by this masthead.
But whatever the impact on Merivale,with its dominance over Sydney’s culinary and nightlife scenes,we doubt much damage will be done to Hemmes’ charmed life.
Justin Hemmes told staff he was “devastated” by the allegations of wrongdoing at his venues.Credit:AFR
The Hemmes family owns the $100 million Hermitage mansion in Vaucluse,with some of the most pristine views of Sydney Harbour money can buy.
Those views got just that little bit more pristine after someone vandalised a few trees on the foreshore walk beneath the Hemmes’ mansion. CBD is trying to find the culprit.
The tree-vandal scandal was a mystery to Hemmes,who we hear was alerted to it by the neighbours six months ago and had nothing to do with it. The good folk at NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service are still busy investigating. Or so we thought. They directed us back to Woollahra Council,who in turn directed us back to … the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
By deadline the mystery remained unsolved.
On-time departure
Joe Aston’sbook on Qantas hit the shelves at the worst possible time for both an airline trying to shed the “embattled” tag earned during its 2023 annus horribilis,and a prime minister trying to escape political attacks over his $4.3 million clifftop home purchase.
But as Albanese was scrambling to respond to revelations that he’d liaised with former Qantas bossAlan Joyceto receive flight upgrades worth tens of thousands of dollars,the airline was reminding its staff about the importance of integrity.
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On Monday Qantas sent an internal memo informing employees that they would be required to complete a course on “acting with integrity”.
The online course,which they were told they were required to undertake by April 30 next year,is centred on “managing the risks associated with gifts,benefits and hospitality”,as well as conflicts of interest. Well then.
“The course will provide guidance on identifying and evaluating ethical dilemmas,considering the consequences and making informed and ethically sound decisions,” the memo said.
While CBD understands the staff assignment was planned long before the release of Aston’s book,clearly nobody at Qantas clocked the optics of pressing ‘send’ right when the headlines about political favouritism were kicking off yet again. The cockpit and cabin crew still seem woefully out of sync.
In the stars
It’s been an eventful six-month tenure for the Seven Network’s new-ish news and current affairs bossAnthony De Ceglie,who got up on Tuesday in front of a room full of journalists at the Melbourne Press Club and addressed the question he figured they would all want answered.
Well,one of them,given the many controversies the experienced newspaper editor and TV newbie inherited when Seven proprietorKerry Stokesappointed him to the role from his post editingThe West Australian newspaper and producing countless provocative and memorable front pages.
De Ceglie was left to deal with a slate of redundancies and controversies over harassment and bullying,a mass reshuffle of executives,not to mention introducingMark Humphries’ humorousThe 6.57pm Newssegment into the evening bulletin.
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But it was the astrology segment he started,part of the master plan to try new things and attract new audiences,that was front of mind.
“For those who care,my star sign rating for today is supposed to be three stars,so I think that bodes OK,” De Ceglie told the assembled throng.
He neatly sidestepped difficult questions about Seven’s newsroom culture,saying it was before his time and actions speak louder than words.
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