Saturday, 24th May, 2025: Osman Faruqi-Award Winning Writer & Journalist, ‘The state of Hospitality in Victoria’

Nevena interviews Osman  Faruqi was the culture news editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age between February 2022 and August 2024.^] Previously he was Schwartz Media‘s head of audio, presenter of The Culture podcast, and editor of daily news podcast, 7am. He worked as the deputy editor of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation‘s ABC Life and as a reporter with the ABC’s investigative audio program, Background Briefing, and was the former political editor at Junkee. He is also known as a contributor to The Guardian, The Saturday Paper and others.

What’s the current mood in Melbourne’s hospitality scene: are we seeing recovery post-pandemic, or is the sector still crawling back to solid ground?

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  Many restaurant and bar owners cite rising costs as a key pressure point: how is the cost-of-living crisis affecting everything from ingredient prices to staffing decisions across the industry?
  
  


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  For diners who simply turn up for a meal, what hidden challenges should they know about?
  
  


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  What exactly does it mean to be an independent hospitality owner in Victoria today?  Why do a small group of people have such a strong – some might overwhelming – presence in Melbourne, in particular?
  
  


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  Looking ahead, what support or policy changes would make the biggest difference to Melbourne restaurateurs as they try to keep doors open and plates full?
  
  

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