Brisbane City Council could review Pig ‘N Whistle, Jimmy’s on the Mall leases

Brisbane’s Lord Mayor said he would be “absolutely” prepared to review leases the council holds with a hospitality empire accused of underpaying staff “if those allegations are upheld”.

Jimmy's on the Mall’s lease with Brisbane City Council could be reviewed if allegations of worker exploitations are proven.

A HOSPITALITY empire’s leases at landmark locations across Brisbane could be reviewed by the council if allegations it has exploited workers are proven.

The Courier-Mail revealed today that Mantle Group Hospitality is accused of paying below-award rates to potentially hundreds of staff at its popular Pig ‘N’ Whistle pub chain and other venues.

There is no suggestion that millionaire hotel baron Godfrey Mantle was personally involved in underpayments.

A statement from Mantle Group stated it had undertaken a “complete review” and that every member of staff was paid correctly, and according to the Certified Agreement.

Mantle Group holds a number of leases with the council through its subsidiaries: including a Pig ‘N’ Whistle at Queen Street Mall plus Jimmy’s on the Mall.

Jimmy’s on the Mall also recently won tenders with the council to run The Summit Restaurant and the Kuta Café at the Mt Coot-tha lookout precinct.

The Pig ‘N Whistle site near high end shops at the bottom of the Queen St Mall is currently up for tender. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said he was “absolutely” prepared to review the leases “if those allegations are upheld”.

“But obviously, this is not something that council can do this is something another agency will have to have a look at and I haven’t seen any evidence at this stage,” he said.

“I would expect that all employers, regardless of who they are, have responsibility to do the right thing in terms of their employees.

“Now, I haven’t seen the evidence on this particular matter, but I would simply say to all employers that they need to do the right thing, adhere to the laws and pay their staff appropriately.”

Jimmy's on the Mall has recently won two tenders at the Mt Coot-tha lookout precinct to run The Summit Restaurant and Kuta Cafe. Pictured is its venue at the Mall.

Jimmy’s on the Mall won the Mt Coot-tha leases with promises to pay a combined base rent of $1 million per year – more than double the next highest bidder.

“We always make sure in any procurement that we get the best outcome for ratepayers and that includes best value-for-money for ratepayers as well,” Cr Schrinner said.

“The Summit precinct is a premium attraction for the city and it right that on a council-owned facility that ratepayers get a decent return on that because that helps reduce rates and charges, that helps keeps rates and charges low for ratepayers if commercial businesses are doing well and they’re paying rent to council.

“But as I said before, we expect all employers, regardless of who they are, to do the right thing by their staff.”