Vicky Vardis News Today

Corporate giants are abandoning Sydneys centre with the Commonwealth Bank getting ready to vacate a major tower and other major buildings being left largely hollow.

Celebrity chefs have echoed calls for the government to fast-track visas for overseas workers to fill gaps in hospitality and say Australians no longer want to work in the industry.

Commercial office space vacancy rates remain in the double-digit figures more than two years after the pandemic forced professionals to stay away from the central business district.

Chefs and cafe owners are rewriting menus in a bid to combat the spiralling cost of raw ingredients which has seen the price of some vegetables rocket to 24 times their usual level - and its set to get worse.