Wes Lambert, chief executive of the Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association, told Yahoo Finance he believes venues will need to add at least 10 per cent to menu prices this year in order to combat increased costs and still be in the same position, “not going forwards or backwards”.

Wes Lambert, chief executive of the Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association, said the pile-up of additional financial demands from the wage rise, Payday Super changes, the phase-out of junior pay rates and removal of credit card surcharges meant establishments would need to add at least 10 per cent to menu prices this year to maintain profit margins.

‘Job-destruction mechanism’ The Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association (ARCA) said the increase in the minimum wage and all award rates from July 1, “falls dangerously short of balance between business and employee needs”. The Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association (ARCA) said the increase in the minmum wage and all award rates from July 1, “falls dangerously short of balance between business and employee needs”. ARCA chief executive Wes Lambert said the “hardest truth in hospitality is that restaurants do not print money”.