Embattled MasterChef judge George Calombaris and his wife were spotted stepping out for breakfast in Melbourne on Wednesday – a day after it was announced the celebrity chef would be replaced on the show.
Calombaris and his wife Natalie Tricarico met with an unknown male friend at Grange Road Egg Shop, Toorak, in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs just before 9am.
The chef has been keeping a low profile since being fined last week for underpaying 515 of his restaurant staff between 2011 and 2017 by $7.8 million.
Network 10 confirmed Calombaris, and his fellow judges, Matt Preston, and Gary Mehigan, will not be returning next season after failing to reach an agreement on a new contract.
The trio will be replaced after an 11-year run by former contestant Poh Ling Yeow and popular celebrity chefs Maggie Beer and Curtis Stone.
Calombaris and his wife Natalie Tricarico were spotted going out to breakfast after it was announced MasterChef is to replace the judges next season due to a reported pay dispute
MasterChef judge George Calombaris was pictured looking downcast on Wednesday
That pair met with a male friend for breakfast just one day after it was announced he would be replaced next season on the hit show
Calombaris arrived at the cafe first looking downcast and met the male friend before his wife arrived and joined the pair 10 minutes later.
The three sat at a window table but closed the blinds shortly after arriving and stayed for just over an hour.
The leniency of the celebrity chef’s fine of $200,000 for underpaying his workers, dished out by the Fair Work Ombudsman, has left the federal government and unions stewing.
‘I think that that fine myself is light,’ Attorney-General Christian Porter told ABC Radio National on Tuesday.
ACTU president Michelle O’Neill agreed, saying Calombaris would have earned more money on the interest that he stole from people than the amount of money he was fined.
‘They didn’t prosecute the company, they instead did a sweetheart deal where all they had to do was of course promise to pay the money back,’ she told Sky News.
Network Ten had been under immense pressure to sack Calombaris on the reality cooking show after his company Made Establishment received the fine.
Instead, Calombaris and his two co-hosts Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan walked away from the show after pay negotiations fell through.
It was reported the trio was demanding a 40 per cent pay rise as well as a stake in international profits.
The shocking development came just as the season 11 finale of the show was set to air on Tuesday night.
Restaurant manager Larissa Takchi, 22, won the season, taking home a $250,000 prize.
George wore a white T-Shirt saying ‘smile and smile back’ while his wife’s t-shirt read ‘Happy’
The celebrity chef will not be returning to Masterchef next season after contract negotiations failed to reach an agreement
Mr Porter said the government would review wage theft penalties amid claims they are too lenient.
‘I’m open minded to submissions that there should be firmer penalties there, inclusive of potentially criminal penalties reserved for repetitious breaches,’ he said.
‘We’re going to go through a process of consultation on both sides of this argument, to determine what is the proper limitation – so at what point would you apply those criminal offences.’
Speaking before news of the judge’s departure broke, Ms Takchi said the three judges and George in particular had been amazing mentors.
Judge Gary Mehigan posted on social media after the announcement that ‘it was never about the money’ and he felt it was time to explore other avenues.
Network Ten chief executive Paul Anderson also denied the failed negotiations were linked to Calombaris’ troubles, saying the network had been in talks with the trio for months.
MASTERCHEF JUDGES GONE: FULL STATEMENT FROM NETWORK TEN
GONE: George Calombaris, Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan will not return to the MasterChef set
Network Ten today announced that Matt Preston, Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris will not return as judges in the next season of MasterChef Australia.
Network Ten chief executive officer Paul Anderson said: ‘Despite months of negotiation, Ten has not been able to reach a commercial agreement that was satisfactory to Matt, Gary and George.
‘Across 11 sensational seasons, MasterChef Australia has established itself as one of the most popular and respected cooking television series around the world.
‘For more than a decade, the iconic series has shaped and driven the Australian public’s passion for food and cooking, delivered iconic television moments, and made the culinary dreams of everyday home cooks come true.
‘We would like to thank Gary, George and Matt for their contribution over the past 11 years.
‘MasterChef Australia has always been about ordinary Australians doing extraordinary things for the love of food and we believe it is very important to continue that ethos.
‘Australia is full of remarkable cooking talent and we can’t wait to introduce another group – and the next generation of exception judges – in season 12 of MasterChef Australia next year’.
Calombaris presenting the prize to MasterChef 2019 winner Larissa Takchi
Attorney-General Christian Porter (pictured) said he thought Calombaris’ fine was light
‘The reality is that we couldn’t meet the demands of the three judges,’ he told Ten News.
‘Despite months of negotiation, 10 has not been able to reach a commercial agreement that was satisfactory to Matt, Gary and George,’
The trio, who were judges on the show for 11 seasons, made their last appearance on Tuesday night’s 2019 season finale, with new judges to be introduced in next year’s season.
The trio had reportedly demanded a pay rise of more than 40 per cent to stay.
But in a post on Instagram on Tuesday night, Mehigan denied their departure was motivated by finances.
‘It was time to move on, have more free time to explore our own creativity’,’ he said.
‘It was never about the money and never will be about the money.’
GEORGE CALOMBARIS’S STAFF LASH OUT AT MASTERCHEF JUDGE
As George Calombaris gears up for Tuesday night’s MasterChef grand finale, workers have told Daily Mail Australia he is continuing to dupe Australians.
Former Hellenic Republic waiter Aidan Carter said the MasterChef judge had scant regard for his workers’ mental health.
Former Hellenic Republic waiter Aidan Carter continues to fight George Calombaris’ company over unpaid holiday leave loading. He claims the company has practically ignored workers
‘It is quite poisonous – it’s a hard thing on everyone’s mental health I think. There would be so many issues within the industry,’ he said.
Mr Carter worked at Calombaris’ restaurant for five years – four of which he claimed he was underpaid.
The ex-employee said like many in the hospitality industry, he worked anywhere up to 55 hours a week, but was paid for just 38.
Others had worked up to 70.
He was also short paid on dodgy casual rates.
When he worked out his actual rights under the award, he had missed out on significant back pay.
‘I think they are putting out the message that everyone has been paid, but there is a small group of us who have been in contact (with the company) for at least 18 months now and I’m really getting no response,’ he said.
Mr Carter said it felt as if Calombaris’ company, Made Establishment, was ignoring the issue.
One employee was unable to even obtain their full-time pay slips, Mr Carter said.
‘They’re really stalling it. In the past they really hoped it would go away and now it’s obviously resurfaced again, but it hasn’t really kicked them into action unfortunately and it’s upsetting to see that the image he’s selling that people are believing everyone has been paid and it’s over now, but there are still people fighting for payments,’ he said.
Matt Preston (left), George Calombaris (centre) and Gary Mehigan (right) are to be replaced next season on MasterChef
The celebrity chef is in hot water after underpaying his staff to the tune of $7.8 million