Latest news with #MattMoran
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Major blow for celebrity chef Matt Moran and one of Sydney's richest families as they are forced out of iconic Sydney venue in move that has stunned insiders
Celebrity chef Matt Moran and hospitality heavyweight Solotel have been sensationally ousted from one of Sydney 's most coveted venues after a 24-year run. In a shock shake-up that's sent ripples through Sydney's hospitality scene, the Sydney Opera House has handed the lucrative Opera Bar contract to rising player Applejack for the next decade - despite Solotel's widely praised stewardship of the venue. Applejack, an industry underdog, launched in 2011 and has since built a trendy stable of Sydney hotspots, including Bopp & Tone, The Butler and RAFI. The group threw its hat into the fiercely competitive tender ring to run the Opera House and House Canteen venues in November last year, and against the odds, came out on top. Meanwhile, Solotel, which boasts an even bigger portfolio of star venues like Aria, Chiswick, Barangaroo House, and the Golden Sheaf, was left empty-handed, marking the end of an era running the Opera Bar. Perched at the base of the Sydney Opera House, Opera Bar and the neighbouring House Canteen are considered Sydney's most prized hospitality assets, thanks to their jaw-dropping harbour views. For more than two decades, Mr Moran and Solotel founder Bruce Solomon transformed Opera Bar into an iconic Sydney destination, drawing locals, tourists and celebrities alike. Their reign has come to a dramatic close. The Solotel empire now sits under the watch of Bruce Solomon's son, Elliott, who was appointed CEO in 2021. Elliot Solomon is married to Miki Hendler, the granddaughter of billionaire property developer Harry Triguboff. Mr Triguboff is one of the most wealthy men in Australia with an estimated worth of $20billion. The heiress works for the family business, Meriton, and together with her husband, are involved in hospitality groups which have a combined net worth of millions of dollars. Solotel has also had a long partnership with Matt Moran after the celebrity chef merged his company, MorSol, with the group in 2016. On its website, the group boasts Moran as 'one of Australia's most renowned and recognised chefs' who has been a 'champion of seasonal and local produce'. Despite the upset over Opera Bar, the key players struck a gracious tone. In a joint statement, Mr Moran, Mr Solomon and Opera Bar general manager John Gallas said they were proud of their long association, even as the partnership ended. 'We had a vision to democratise the [Opera House] for the people, making the space approachable and fun,' the statement read. 'We set out to create a place that celebrated Sydney, its harbour, and its people, and that is exactly what Opera Bar has become. 'It has been our privilege to … help shape such an iconic part of the city with a bar that is loved by Sydney and the world.' Sydney Opera House Chief Customer Officer Jade McKellar thanked Solotel, Matt Moran, and General Manager John Gallas for successfully running the venues. 'The Solotel team has been instrumental to the success of these iconic Sydney venues, creating unforgettable experiences for locals and tourists over decades and contributing to the vitality of Sydney's hospitality scene,' Ms McKellar said. 'We're incredibly proud of what we've delivered together over this long-standing partnership. 'We thank them for their significant contribution and acknowledge their lasting legacy.' Ms McKellar added the Opera House was 'thrilled' to appoint Applejack to run the harbourside venues. 'We were delighted by the exceptional standard of the submissions received, with Applejack's detailing a compelling, vibrant vision for this community space that thousands of locals and visitors enjoy every year,' Ms McKellan said. 'There's nothing quite like the Opera House, and I'm looking forward to working with Applejack to make the most of this tremendous opportunity.' Applejack co-founders Ben Carroll and Hamish Watts said winning the tender was a 'dream come true for our entire team'. 'To be entrusted as custodians of venues at the Sydney Opera House – the world's most iconic cultural stage – is both humbling and inspiring,' they said in a statement. 'We can't wait to share the exciting new concepts we've developed for both locals and visitors while honouring this extraordinary location.' The last time the Opera Bar was up for tender was in 2014, when it sparked a legal battle between Solotel and owner of the now-closed restaurant Hugos in Potts Point. Mr Evans accused an architect of leaking his plans and claimed the Sydney Opera House Trust had given Solotel an unfair advantage when it allowed the group a second submission after the deadline. Both the architect and the Opera House Trust denied the accusations, however Evans' legal action against the trust continued and reached the courts in 2018. A judge ordered the parties to go to mediation and in November, last year, Evans and the Opera House had reached a confidential settlement. Applejack's contract for the Opera Bar will begin in mid-September and will take over the House Canteen in mid-November, with refurbishments set to start in 2026.
Mint
20-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
How weight-loss drugs blew out the US trade deficit
Planes have been jetting from Ireland to the U.S. this year carrying something more valuable than gold: $36 billion worth of hormones for popular obesity and diabetes drugs. The frantic airlift of those ingredients—more than double what was imported from Ireland for all of last year—reflects the collision of two powerful forces: tariff-driven stockpiling and weight-loss drug demand. The peptide and protein-based hormones feed into a category of drugs that include wildly popular GLP-1 treatments and newer types of insulin known as analogues. Taken together the shipments weighed just 23,400 pounds, according to U.S. trade data, equivalent to the weight of less than four Tesla Cybertrucks. Fit into temperature-controlled air cargo containers, the pharmaceutical ingredients have had a huge impact on the U.S. trade imbalance. The shipments have vaulted Ireland, a country of only 5.4 million people, into the second-largest goods-trade imbalance with the U.S., trailing only China. They accounted for roughly half of the $71 billion in goods the U.S. imported from the country in the first four months of the year. Nearly 100% of the imports had a final destination of Indiana, according to U.S. customs records. Eli Lilly, the drug giant behind weight loss and diabetes drugs Zepbound and Mounjaro, is headquartered in Indianapolis. A Lilly spokeswoman declined to comment. President Trump's off-and-on trade war has rewritten global trading patterns this year and—temporarily, at least—widened some of the imbalances he is seeking to eliminate. Companies have scrambled to get shipments to the U.S. ahead of tariff deadlines, with a first round of front-loading ahead of the April 2 announcement, and smaller pushes after the White House paused some of its tariffs. Ireland is at the epicenter of the global rush. It is a major hub for U.S. drug giants, who have been expanding operations there in part because of Ireland's favorable tax policies. Some of the bestselling drugs in the world, such as AbbVie's anti-wrinkle treatment Botox, and U.S. drugmaker Merck's cancer treatment Keytruda, are made in the country. 'It's common sense. It's uncertain at the moment, so you're building a bit of security by stockpiling," said Matt Moran, a consultant and former director of industry group BioPharmaChem Ireland. 'There's such huge demand for those products at the moment." The trade imbalance has put Ireland into an uncomfortable position, landing it earlier this month on the U.S. Treasury Department's monitoring list for currency manipulation, which the government uses to send a warning shot to countries it thinks use unfair trade practices. Ireland's central bank said in a report Thursday that new factories making weight-loss drug ingredients helped drive the country's exports. Ireland's first-quarter economic growth expanded by nearly 10% in the first quarter thanks to the export surge. The attention is 'definitely not welcome," said Dan O'Brien, chief economist of the Institute of International and European Affairs, a Dublin think tank. 'A very big part of the U.S.-EU deficit is accounted for by Ireland alone. Trump doesn't like deficits." The White House wants American drug companies to bring production home and in April ordered a so-called Section 232 investigation that could result in tariffs on both imported drugs and ingredients like hormones. Trump said this week that such tariffs could come 'very soon." Lilly is a force in the market for weight-loss drugs, with sales of its GLP-1 medicines Mounjaro and Zepbound expected to nearly double this year to about $30 billion, according to Bank of America analysts. Maintaining supply of weight-loss drugs has been a challenge for both Lilly and rival Novo Nordisk, the Danish maker of Ozempic and Wegovy. The companies were initially unable to keep up with demand for the drugs. Lilly resolved the shortages faster, helping it to take market share from Novo. Lilly is now preparing for the potential launch of a weight-loss pill, orforglipron, which it plans to submit for U.S. approval later this year. Lilly said it began producing weight-loss and diabetes medicines at its Irish factory in Kinsale in 2023. Novo doesn't produce weight-loss drugs in Ireland, according to a spokeswoman. Peptide and protein-based hormones help to regulate processes such as appetite and metabolism. The category includes hormones that mimic a naturally occurring gut hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, but can also be used in some fertility and osteoporosis treatments. Shipping and logistics companies say they have noticed increased demand for pharma shipments, which often travel by air instead of on cheaper ocean freighters because they are so light and valuable. Pharma shipments more than doubled from Ireland to the U.S. in March and April, according to data firm WorldACD. Kuehne + Nagel, a Swiss logistics company with operations in the country, said its teams did overtime to accommodate the increase in booking requests and the customs paperwork. 'We didn't see the same increase from Ireland to the rest of the world. That was not a global trend," said Nico Sacco, the company's senior vice president of healthcare strategy. Imports of vaccines and various other drugs including cancer treatments also increased this year from Ireland, according to trade data. Merck produces cancer treatment Keytruda, the world's bestselling drug, in Ireland, among other places. Merck Chief Executive Rob Davis in April said the company has enough supply to mitigate any impact this year from tariffs and is working on navigating the long-term fallout of tariffs. Merck recently began construction on its first U.S. plant to make Keytruda. Lilly said earlier this year it plans to invest $27 billion in expanding U.S. production. The hormones are often freeze dried and shipped as powders. Obesity-related drugs can fly in the cargo sections of passenger planes, or on cargo flights reserved for pharma products, said Anand Kulkarni, head of global markets at Lufthansa Cargo. Lufthansa saw demand for U.S.-bound pharma shipments from locations such as India, Switzerland and Belgium. Volumes began to dip in April as warehouses in the U.S. reached capacity, he said. To increase shipments, drug companies likely tapped existing stocks and diverted production destined for the rest of the world to the U.S. market instead, industry executives said. 'You can't just switch on capacity. You don't go out and buy machines and start them up," said Moran, the consultant. 'They have to be built, commissioned, validated, and approved by the regulator." Write to Chelsey Dulaney at and Jared S. Hopkins at
Man of Many
23-05-2025
- Business
- Man of Many
12 Best Restaurants in Barangaroo
Barangaroo is a shipping hub turned hotspot for all things good food and fun. It's no surprise that the best restaurants in Barangaroo are also some of the best in Sydney, with state-of-the-art architecture and unparalleled views of Sydney Harbour. This is one of our favourite places to pair the perfect backdrop with a memorable dining experience on birthdays and special occasions, like Vivid Sydney, which touches down here in May each year. If you're yet to explore the precinct, these are our favourite restaurants to get you started. Best Restaurants in Barangaroo at a Glance Highlights from our list include the following options: Now you've read our favourites, let's check out the complete list. Oncore by Clare Smyth | Image: Supplied / Crown 1. Oncore by Clare Smyth One of the world's most acclaimed chefs (three Michelin stars), Clare Smyth, is bringing her expertise to Sydney's foreshore at Barangaroo's Oncore. Before you even sit down at the table you know you're at one of the best Barangaroo restaurants with a view, housed on the 26th floor of the Crown Tower we think it's the best view in the city. Once seated, guests can expect a gastronomical experience that challenges any in the world – ingredients are sourced from local sustainable produce and the Potato and Roe is as good as anyone will tell you it is. Food is accompanied by a 3,000 strong restaurant wine cellar. Our hot tip – for Oncore's Chef's Table experience, book a table at the bar. Read our interview with Clare Smyth for more insights about her Australian journey here. Address: Crown Sydney, Level 26/1 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo Phone: (02) 8871 7171 Rekodo Restaurant & Vinyl Bar | Image: Supplied / Bea 2. Rekodo Restaurant & Vinyl Bar One of the most exciting new restaurant openings in Sydney last year, Rekodo Restaurant & Vinyl Bar is the brainchild of Matt Moran alongside the team at Solotel. If the idea of casual mid-to-high-end dining sounds like it's up your alley, then head upstairs at Barangaroo House to check it out. The perfect Friday night after work sport, Rekodo features Japanese-inspired flavours, with sake, cocktails, and wine to please even the snobbiest of all drinkers. With share plates taking centre stage, including fresh seafood, the vinyl DJs set the mood for an outstanding dinner spent with friends and family. Grab some edamame, Wagyu steak, and Yuzu cocktail, and you're in for a great time. Located in: Barangaroo House Address: Level 1/35 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo NSW 2000 Hours: Tues 5-10pm, Wed & Sun 12-10pm, Thurs & Sat 12-11pm, Fri 12-11:30pm Phone: (02) 8587 5400 a'Mare | Image: Crown Sydney 3. a'Mare If you're on the hunt for a Barangaroo Italian restaurant to satisfy those endless pizza and pasta cravings, a'Mare has you sorted. Headed by Chef Alessandro Pavoni, this eatery guarantees an authentic Italian experience with a menu that features favourite classics of ours – built around hand-made pasta, the wagyu beef carpaccio antipasti and homemade pesto is a highlight. All this is set against a luxurious interior, and we're happy to report that the Negroni is more than satisfactory, it's one of the best in the city. Priced from around $160 per person, the a'Mare Experience for two or more people is a no-brainer in our eyes, Spaghettini tonno, arancio e bottarga (yellowfin tuna) is simply outstanding. Located in: Crown Sydney Address: Crown Sydney, Level 1/1 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo NSW 2000 Hours: Thurs-Mon 12–2:30 pm, 5:30–9 pm, Tues-Weds 5:30-9pm Phone: (02) 8029 0887 Woodcut | Image: Supplied / Crown 4. Woodcut Woodcut is the best restaurant in Barangaroo if you're looking for a steak. A great experience being situated at the bottom of the Crown, it's great if you want to be up close and personal with both the harbour and the kitchen. Woodcut restaurant boasts four open kitchens that are on full display for diners, showcasing the skills and flavours of culinary power couple Ross and Sunny Lusted. You will be able to visit every day and not get bored, with the menu changing daily. Favourites of ours include the Wagyu Black Angus cross 6+ Rib eye for fairly obvious reasons. Located in: Crown Sydney Address: International Tower, Level 1/1 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo Hours: Tues-Sun 12 pm–12 am, Mon 5:30 pm–12 am Phone: (02) 8871 7171 5. Nobu Another fine dining experience gracing Crown Sydney in Barangaroo, Nobu is the much-anticipated product of chef Nobu Matsuhisa and actor Robert DeNiro, who began the Nobu empire in New York City in the 1990s. Sydney is one of the last cities for the team to venture into, and now that they've finally made it, we're glad to see a few familiar menu items to choose from. Nobu is the perfect fusion of traditional Japanese cuisine with local produce and favourites of ours have to include the famous Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna (we could eat 100) and the Black Cod Miso. Cocktails are great as expected, making this a true Sydney dining destination. Located in: Crown Sydney Address: Crown Sydney, Level 2/1 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo NSW 2000 Hours: Mon-Thur 12–3 pm, 6–9:30 pm, Fri-Sat 12–3 pm, 5:30–10:30 pm, Sun 12–3 pm, 5:30–9:30 pm Phone: (02) 8871 7188 Belles Hot Chicken Barangaroo | Image: Supplied / Belles Hot Chicken 6. Belles Hot Chicken Barangaroo For one of the best restaurants in Barangaroo with a more casual feel, Belles is the place. Whilst it may not encapsulate fine dining, you can't go past the delicious fried chicken and hearty eats on offer here. Inspired from the streets of Nashville, you can rest assured what you're getting is the real deal. Think mouth-watering tenders and delectable sambos. For something a bit fancy to balance it out, they have a great selection of natural wines on offer. If you're a lover of spicy food, there's a spice here to knock your socks off (just ask). Located in: The Streets of Barangaroo Address: 5/33 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo NSW 2000 Hours: Sun-Thur 11:30 am–9 pm, Fri-Sat 11:30 am–9:30 pm Phone: (02) 7253 1919 Yoshii's Omakase | Image: Supplied / Crown 7. Yoshii's Omakase at Nobu Nestled within Crown Sydney's Nobu restaurant is Yoshii's Omakase, and just like the Mario Kart character, this eatery is as iconic as ever. The Japanese word 'omakase' translates to 'I'll leave it to you', allowing the chef to select an entire menu for their guests which changes daily based on seasonal availability. This means what you're eating will not only be fresh, but innovative and unique. We suggest getting Yoshii's signature saikyo miso-marinated toothfish, and shiitake mushrooms smoked in cedar. Located in: Crown Sydney Address: Crown Sydney, Level 2/1 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo Hours: Tues-Sat 6–11 pm Phone: (02) 8871 7188 | Image: Supplied / 8. is one of the best restaurants in Barangaroo with a sustainable focus at its core. The menu is full of, you guessed it, seafood, and it's all fresh, locally and sustainably sourced, prepared with simple techniques that make it the star of the show. The epic waterfront location goes hand in hand with the menu, for a fresh, ethical fine dining experience like no other. Address: 7/23 Barangaroo Avenue, Wulugul Walk, Barangaroo NSW 2000 Hours: Mon-Sat 11:30 am–3 pm, 5–9 pm, Sun 11:30 am–3 :30 pm Phone: (02) 8077 3700 Anason | Image: Supplied / Anason 9. Anason One of the very first permanent restaurants to grace Barangaroo, Anason can fairly be considered a leader of the fine dining precinct. The menu takes a Mediterranean and Turkish spin on things, the chef hailing from Sydney's Balmain Efendy, perhaps the most prolific Turkish restaurant in the harbourside city. You can expect all the Turkish classics, plus some innovative twists, along with plenty of traditional Raki and Turkish wine, of course. Favourites of ours include; Oyster, tarama, squid ink cracker, beach succulents, as well as, Lamb pie, fillo pastry, ground lamb, yoghurt, sumac. Address: 5/23 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo NSW 2000 Hours: Mon-Sun 11:30 am–10 pm Phone: (02) 9188 1581 Ume Burger | Image: Supplied / Ume Burger 10. Ume Burger Ume Burger is fondly known by Sydneysiders, with its OG Japanese-inspired burger bar on Bourke Street a long-time favourite. The second Ume Burger at Barangaroo had a lot to live up to, but it's safe to say it has achieved just that – with a twin menu to the original Bar Ume's, but with a few additional burgers and, an ever more extensive drinks list as well as a soft-serve machine- what more could you want? Located in: The Streets of Barangaroo Address: 33 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo NSW 2000 Hours: Sun-Tues 11:30 am–2:30 pm, Wed-Sat 11:30 am–2:30 pm, 4:30–9 pm Phone: 0481 951 920 Lotus Barangaroo | Image: Supplied / Lotus Barangaroo 11. Lotus Barangaroo Lotus is the go-to Barangaroo Chinese restaurant, with a tasty menu and outdoor dining, it's fresh, delicious and perfect for any occasion. The menu has a strong seafood focus, perfectly complemented by its stunning location right on the Barangaroo waterfront. We recommend the lobster, scallop, prawns and squid ink dumplings and their pipis cooked in garlic butter and saltbush, for something a bit different to your typical Chinese fare. Address: 8/9 Wulugul Walk, Barangaroo NSW 2000 Hours: Mon-Sun 12–3 pm, 5:30–9:30 pm Phone: (02) 7227 0050 Spiced by Billu's | Image: Supplied / Spiced by Billu's 12. Spiced by Billu's Serving up some of the best North Indian cuisines in Sydney and undoubtedly one of the best restaurants in Barangaroo for a curry, Spiced by Billu's is perfect for cold, winter days. The interior is beautifully decorated with hanging lamps and terracotta tiles to create that Indian-inspired ambience. In terms of the menu, expect all your favourite classics along with some new additions. Our favourite has to be the goat curry – don't diss it until you try it! Located in: The Streets of Barangaroo Address: 7/33 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo NSW 2000 Hours: Sun-Weds 9:30pm, Thurs 12-10pm, Fri-Sat 12-10:30pm Phone: (02) 9046 0979
West Australian
20-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Mia Davies: ‘It takes courage and conviction to step into the political arena'
Congratulations to everyone that saw the opportunity to make a difference for our nation and stepped up to contend as a candidate at this Federal election. It takes courage and conviction to step into public arena to test yourself, many do not. To Matt Moran and Trish Cook, with the result still undecided in Bullwinkel, I wish you both the very best. The first Member for Bullwinkel will have a special place in our nation's history, just like that courageous woman it is named for. I know we all understood the privilege it was to contest the election as a candidate and speak of Sister Vivian Bullwinkel as its namesake. I have always been a firm believer that The Nationals brand of representation and advocacy, our approach to policy and politics, is something more Australians deserve. The contest was always going to be a challenge for The Nationals, but that was not a reason to vacate the space. We fight fiercely for our electorates, we bring commonsense to the debate, and have a track record of delivering for our constituencies – most of which are vast, diverse and challenging to service. I thank David Littleproud and his Federal team for their support throughout the campaign. Too often the value of our team and its contribution to a stable Government or Opposition is underestimated or diminished by those that would prefer to see us gone. I remind those that have been devising or reporting on our demise for decades that we are still here, fighting and making a difference. I joined our Party to do just that. To make a difference. To give people in communities we represent a voice, and to fight so they could plan a future that meant they could thrive instead of just survive. For seventeen years in the State Parliament I did that to the very best of my ability. Thank you to the good and decent people of the Central Wheatbelt who supported me to represent them for three terms, after four years of representing communities from Northampton to Esperance in the Legislative Council. Taking a seat at the biggest decision-making table in our State will remain one of the greatest privileges and highlights of my time in politics. Sitting alongside this are the moments in my constituency that never made it to the paper but improved the lives of people who work hard, do the right thing and quietly go about life. Two years ago I started contemplating life after politics and announced I would not be contesting the 2025 State election. It was time for a change and a new challenge. Less than year ago the new Federal electorate of Bullwinkel was created. The new seat, plus the policy positions emerging from an east-coast centric Federal Labor Government that were undermining and destroying businesses, industry and communities I'd spent twenty years representing, caused me to examine my own conscience. This wasn't the election to sit on the sidelines. In my family, we have a saying — it's actually written on my Dad's gravestone — if you think you can make a difference, you should. That means stepping into the arena ready to have a fight whether you think you'll win, draw or lose. On this occasion we lost. But that does not equate to a lack of effort or conviction, and I thank those people who joined our campaign as we sought to garner support from communities and voters that had never voted Nationals before. Some have been members and volunteers, supporters and friends for many years. Others have found their way to our Party for the very first time. We ran a campaign with energy, integrity and a positive message for the electorate and I sincerely thank everyone that joined us for the journey. The end of this campaign draws a line under a chapter of my life that has been dominated by politics. It has been exhilarating and demanding, but above all, rewarding. I hope there is something out there that will give me the same satisfaction I have gained from serving the Central Wheatbelt and State in Parliament for seventeen years. I look forward to that challenge. Thank you! Mia Davies was a candidate for the Federal seat of Bullwinkel and the former state Opposition leader
ABC News
11-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Liberal Party's Matt Moran concedes defeat in new WA seat of Bullwinkel
The Liberal candidate for Western Australia's new federal seat of Bullwinkel, Matt Moran, has officially conceded defeat. The Army veteran released a statement to his followers on social media on Saturday night, a week after the federal election. "The result in Bullwinkel is now clear, and while it's not the outcome we had hoped for, I called Trish Cook today to congratulate her," he wrote on Facebook. It was a tight race in the newly formed electorate on Perth's eastern fringe, with Labor's Trish Cook winning the seat by just 990 votes. Bullwinkel is made up of parts of six existing electorates and covers suburbs in eastern Perth and rural areas of the Avon Valley. Western Australia now has 16 federal seats in the House of Representatives. Mr Moran thanked his supporters and said he was proud of his campaign, which attracted a swing of 2.9 per cent towards the Liberal Party in the notionally Labor held area. "To my campaign team, thank you for your tireless dedication and belief in me," Mr Moran said. "It was an honour to be the first Liberal candidate for Bullwinkel and a pleasure to meet passionate people in our community, listen to your concerns and offer pragmatic solutions. "Thank you to the Liberal Party for backing me." Mr Moran ended the post alluding to a future in politics, adding that he would "continue to fight for the people of Bullwinkel". "I will remain active in the community, and I hope to seek elected office again in the future." Labor claimed victory in Bullwinkel on Friday. Ms Cook had been neck-and-neck with Mr Moran for much of the count, and at one point there were fewer than 100 votes separating the front-runners.
