melbourne beach hotels and motels

What the paper said: Smoking ban in Tassie; New bar culture for Perth;

Burgers bite harder on budget, blame power bills

If you are flipping mad over higher power bills, now blame them in part for costlier burgers. Fast food goliath McDonald's has lifted the price of Big Mac, Quarter Pounder and McChicken meals because of bigger costs, including soaring utilities charges. The food giant has advised hundreds of outlets nationwide to charge 10c-30c extra for the products. The recommended price of popular coffees, including cappuccinos, flat whites and lattes, also rose 10-20c a cup because of higher coffee bean costs. “Like all businesses we do, from time to time, have to review our prices in light of increasing cost pressures such as food and packaging, labour, utilities, insurance and electricity costs,'' McDonald's spokeswoman Skye Oxenham said. The price rises, recommended from last month, averaged just over 1 per cent, Ms Oxenham said. Herald Sun ( Melbourne), August 15.

TasPorts in firing line over smoking

Tasports should ban smoking in alfresco dining areas in its jurisdiction, a leading public health specialist says. Heart Foundation president Peter Sexton yesterday called on TasPorts to help support efforts to reduce the high rate of tobacco smoking in Tasmania. “TasPorts had an ideal opportunity to use the powers available under section 67B of the Public Health Act 1997, to support the Hobart City Council in designating alfresco entertainment areas smoke-free,'' Dr Sexton said. The Hobart City Council has banned smoking in outdoor dining areas at restaurants, cafes and pubs in Salamanca and pockets of North Hobart and South Hobart. Since the smoking ban came into place on August 1 there has been confusion over how the rules apply, with smoking still allowed in areas of Elizabeth St Pier, Murray St Pier and Victoria and Constitution docks, which come under the jurisdiction of TasPorts.