Latest news with #Southbank
News.com.au
26-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Rocker shocked as cigarette prices soar, fuel underworld war in Australia
When Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee stopped by a Southbank 7-Eleven while touring in Melbourne in 2023, he was shocked by price of a packet of Marlboro Gold. The US musician was not used to paying that much — at $62.99 for 25 cigarettes, the cost was at the time among the highest in the world. He took to Instagram to share his receipt for four packets at $251.96 and left no question about his feelings with an accompanying middle finger emoji. Fast forward two years and the cost keeps going up. A photograph of a price board at a Melbourne store over the weekend caused a stir all over again. 'I snapped this pic in Melbourne yesterday,' wrote Sydney-based tourism director Fiona Dalton on LinkedIn. 'It's clearly been a very long time since I made my last purchase but I kid you not — I had to do a double take.' The board showed the cheapest packet of cigarettes cost $34.50 while others nudged the $100 mark. 'This is the cost PER PACKET of cigarettes from a 7/11 convenience store in the city,' Ms Dalton wrote. 'That's $82.99 for a packet of Benson & Hedges. Although I'm not an advocate for the damages of smoking it's worth considering what's happening as a result of these prices. 'No wonder the 'Tobacco Wars' will be the next Underbelly series. No wonder we have a drug epidemic in Australia. No wonder kids are vaping. No wonder the illegal tobacco trade is increasing. No wonder the underworld are killing each other on the streets of Sydney and Melbourne over deals gone wrong. 'This is insane. Has public policy gone too far?' It's a question that has does the rounds in Australia year after year. Australia's cigarette prices are sky-high because the Federal Government applies a tobacco excise to cigarettes. The tax per cigarette is roughly $1.40. It means a packet of cigarettes in Australia, on average, costs more than $AU40 compared to about $AU13 in the United States. In Europe and Japan, the cost of cigarettes is even lower. The tobacco excise is indexed every March and September in line with average weekly ordinary-time earnings. The thinking behind the policy is that higher costs will deter smoking. It's in the interests of public health and aims to keep smokers out of hospital beds. But it also earns the government massive revenue, though that is falling as Aussies turn to the illicit tobacco market. Fei Gao, a Lecturer in Taxation from the University of Sydney and Andrew Terry, a Professor of Business Regulation from the University of Sydney, wrote recently about why the public policy has created a 'diabolical problem for the government'. 'This financial year, the government expects to earn revenue from the tobacco excise of A$7.4 billion. That's down sharply from $12.6 billion in 2022–23, and an earlier peak of $16.3 billion in 2019–20,' they wrote. 'The government expects this downward trend to continue. Australia's heavy tobacco taxation has driven many consumers towards illicit cigarettes. 'But this is more than just a problem for government coffers accustomed to revenue from the tobacco tax. 'It presents a major challenge for a public health policy that has long relied on increasing tobacco excise duty as its primary tool to reduce smoking. 'If government revenue from tobacco is falling, it isn't because we aren't trying to tax it.' They wrote that 'while legal cigarette prices are prohibitively high for some, illegal alternatives are widely available and significantly cheaper. That's because these unregulated products bypass excise and GST entirely'. 'The estimated value of illicit tobacco entering the Australian market has soared, from $980 million in 2016–17 to more than $6 billion in 2022–23. Of this $6 billion, almost $3 billion entered the market undetected.' The impact is being seen on the streets of Melbourne and Sydney where organised crime syndicates have been burning down rival businesses in what's dubbed the 'big tobacco wars'. Hundreds of shops have been burned down in the last few years. On LinkedIn, many joined the debate about exactly what to do. 'When you can pick up a pack for $15 with the same chemicals,' one person wrote. 'Meanwhile in Spain, I took this photo (of) the Marlboro box. Some were €4.65,' wrote another. Latest estimates by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare suggests 1.8 million Australians smoke daily. A poll of more than 9000 readers carried out last year showed 66 per cent of respondents thought cigarette prices were too high in Australia. Author and economist Jason Murphy summed it up well. 'What we see now in Australia is that a pack of smokes is so expensive that normal people are willing to buy black market cigarettes. And organised crime is willing to supply. 'When a pack costs $12 at the shops, there's not much profit in undercutting the supermarket giants. But when a pack costs $50 at the shops, well. 'Remember that tobacco and paper are very, very cheap to make, transport and sell. They store easily and don't need to be refrigerated or kept food-safe. Anyone who has ever bought cigarettes in Asia knows the fair price of the actual product can be very low. 'So if you can buy a pack of cigarettes for 30 cents wholesale out of Asia and sell it under the counter illegally in Australia for $20, the profits are huge. 'Hence all the firebombing.'
Hospitality Net
12-05-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
New hub by Premier Inn for South London
The transformation of underused office buildings into midscale hotels remains a key development model in the UK hotel sector. A recent example is Whitbread PLC's acquisition of Dorset House, marking the planned debut of hub by Premier Inn south of the River Thames. Adaptive reuse meets location-driven expansion Whitbread has secured the freehold of Dorset House, a 90,000 sq ft vacant office block in London's Southbank district, with plans to retrofit the nine-storey structure into a circa 400-bedroom hotel under the hub by Premier Inn brand. Subject to planning approval, the project will bring the brand to the south side of the Thames for the first time, expanding Whitbread's network of compact city-centre hotels. Strategic expansion through office-to-hotel conversions The planned Dorset House conversion reflects Whitbread's wider strategy of repurposing vacant commercial assets in core urban areas. In 2025 alone, the company has also secured sites in Holborn and Vauxhall, both of which involve similar office-to-hotel redevelopment. Such conversions allow operators to meet high demand for affordable accommodation in dense city locations while avoiding the longer lead times and higher costs of new-build projects. The strategy aligns with broader urban regeneration policies and planning priorities in cities like London. Sustainability and growth alignment The project also fits into Whitbread's broader Force for Good sustainability framework. From 2025, all Whitbread-owned hotels will be powered by renewable electricity. The group has also committed to reducing water consumption per sleeper by 20% by 2030. As part of its long-term growth plan, Whitbread aims to expand its room count from 85,500 to 125,000 across the UK and Ireland, with London remaining a central focus. Whitbread's expansion south of the Thames via the Dorset House project underscores how strategic location, sustainability, and adaptive reuse are converging to shape future hotel development in major urban markets. The approach enables rapid delivery, aligns with ESG goals, and meets the evolving expectations of both business and leisure travellers. Hotel website
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Danny Dyer reveals he has taken up posh sport loved by the Royals to prepare for new season of Rivals after winning first BAFTA
BAFTA-winner Danny Dyer has taken up an unlikely posh sport loved by the Royals to help prepare for the new series of Disney+ hit Rivals. Speaking to MailOnline at Sunday night's BAFTA Television Awards, which saw the ex-EastEnders star claim the best male performance in a comedy gong for his role as Lee Campbell in Sky series My Bigstuff, the actor revealed he's been having polo lessons which has left his backside feeling 'uncomfortably sore.' Danny, 47, told how he's been enrolled into an intensive horse-riding course by show bosses and once he becomes a natural in the saddle, will then learn how to strike a ball with a mallet on horseback. Speaking at Southbank's Royal Festival Hall, Danny, who plays Freddie Jones, said: 'We're filming season two of Rivals this week. I'm learning how to play polo, it's not easy. I spend my days now galloping on a horse...' And on his moustache, Danny added: 'Oh, and this isn't for fashion either…' The father-of-three was still beaming after scooping the prestigious gong, the first BAFTA in his career which has spanned four decades. Speaking to MailOnline at Sunday night's BAFTA Television Awards, the actor revealed he's been having polo lessons which has left his backside feeling 'uncomfortably sore' During his emotional acceptance speech on stage, Danny admitted he was 'choked up' winning the award and thanked his two daughters, Dani, 28, and Sunnie, 18, in attendance, saying: 'Girls, Sunnie and Dani… I've done it, girls, I've f***ing done it!' The star said it was catching a glimpse of his daughters in the audience that reduced him to tears during the award ceremony. And speaking following his win, Danny went onto explain how much the gong meant to him and what his critics over the years might have to say. He quipped: 'Oh, there'll be some people fuming! 'I don't know, man. I've earned it. I only want one; I don't need more than this. I'm happy. 'I've lifted a couple of NTAs over the years, and I always like to win awards and lose them, do the moody clap [pretending] that you're happy for someone else… I've done all that b******s, and I thought I'd be doing that tonight. 'I've had a really good run this year. Rivals has been so well received. A bit odd, really. I've got Rivals sitting there, and I've got Mr Bigstuff there. I've made it.' Danny triumphed over fellow nominees Bilal Hasna for Extraordinary, Dylan Thomas-Smith for G'wed, and Nabhaan Rizwan for Kaos. The cast reunited at the BAFTA Television Awards on Sunday as Emily Atack, who plays sultry Sarah Stratton, attended the red carpet event dressed in a white gown with leather gloves Oliver Savell, who plays a young Alan Carr in Changing Ends, was also recognised, as was Phil Dunning for his role in BBC Three's Smoggie Queens. Danny stars in Disney+ series Rivals alongside David Tennant who plays station boss Tony Baddingham and Aidan Turner, whose character, journalist Declan O'Hara goes against him to create a competitor channel. The cast reunited at the BAFTA Television Awards on Sunday as Emily Atack, who plays sultry Sarah Stratton, attended the red carpet event dressed in a white gown with black leather gloves. She appeared alongside US star, Nafessa Williams, famed for her role as Cameron Cook, who wore a red latex vintage dress by Alexander McQueen. During the prestigious awards, Danny watched his former cast mates in EastEnders also walk away with a huge gong after being named Best Soap. Danny, who played Queen Vic landlord Mick Carter between 2013 and 2022 before he was 'lost at sea', faced an awkward reunion with his ex-bosses after slamming the show's 'dark' storylines during a public speaking event on Friday night. He also hit out at former co-stars Jessie Wallace and Shane Ritchie for 'blanking him' when he first started and claimed he was 'off his nut' on prescription drugs, including 'Valium and diazepam.' On the intensive work schedule, he added: 'You earn good money, but you ain't got time to go to a cashpoint. You have no life. 'The amount of birthdays I missed. If someone dies in your family, they won't even let you go to the funeral. It's such a machine. There's not much duty of care. That's the truth. 'On EastEnders there is no messing about, and you've got to do it. It's the hardest part of our job. I'd love to see A-list actors come in and do it, they'd crumble. You've got to be on it. 'In films you make yourself properly cry, you go to a dark place, and you have time to recover. It messes a lot of people's heads up. Most people are off their nut.
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
James Corden carries pal Ruth Jones' shoes while Claudia Winkleman kicks off her heels as they lead the stars leaving the BAFTA TV Awards
The great and the good of the television world put their best foot forward on Sunday night as they made their way home from the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises. And it proved to be an eventful night for some, with James Corden seen chivalrously carrying Gavin and Stacey co-star Ruth Jones' shoes as they left the dazzling ceremony held at the Royal Festival Hall in London's Southbank Centre. Meanwhile, Claudia Winkleman admitted defeat and hastily kicked off her towering white heels and went barefoot following the ceremony. Following suit, Helen Skelton also shed her uncomfortable footwear and let her feet be free as she walked along the pavement alongside pal Gethin Jones. The footless stars joined a throng of other well-known faces wearily heading home after the bash, with BAFTA winner Danny Dyer seen puffing on a cigarette after turning the air blue during his acceptance speech. While Love Island's Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu, who attended without boyfriend Curtis Pritchard, patiently waited for her taxi home. The event saw a slew of celebrities take home awards celebrating excellence in TV on Sunday, at the glitzy ceremony held in the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall. Mr. Bates vs The Post Office led the big winners of the evening, scoring two more awards to add to the ground-breaking ITV show's ever-growing list of accolades. However, it was the BBC who came out on top, scoring 17 wins in total after a year of triumphant programming, in the ceremony - presented this year by actor Alan Cumming. While Netflix smash Baby Reindeer and the climactic Gavin & Stacey Christmas special also won key awards. Widely expected to claim much of Sunday evening's spotlight, Mr. Bates vs The Post Office picked up an early award for Limited Drama. Accepting the gong from Russell Tovey and Daniel Mays, producer Patrick Spencer said: 'We could only film this because Polly Hill at ITV saved us from getting cancelled and this story only had the impact it did because the people who watched it stood up as one and demanded action with such rage, that the government had no choice but to respond. 'Our show didn't change the law, the people of this nation did. They showed in their response to Mr. Bates vs The Post Office that our country cannot abide liars and bullies.' He added: 'May it be a warning to those who are supposed to have our backs, that they better not abuse their power. 'When accepting this award, we would like to go on record that being trusted by the post-masters to tell their story has been the greatest privilege of our lives.' ITV went on to claim a Special Award, presented by Baroness Floella Benjamin - for its work in commissioning Mr. Bates vs The Post Office. Mr. Bates vs The Post Office led the big winners of the evening, scoring two more awards to add to the ground-breaking ITV show's ever-growing list of accolades (Toby Jones, Monica Dolan and Alan Bates pictured) The night began with Jessica Gunning collecting the award for Best Actress after winning accolades for her portrayal of crazed stalker Martha in Richard Gatt's hugely successful Netflix drama Baby Reindeer 2025 BAFTA TV AWARD WINNERS AT A GLANCE Drama Series - Blue Lights (BBC One) Limited Drama - Mr Bates vs the Post Office (ITV1) International - Shogun (Disney+) - WINNER Scripted Comedy - Alma's Not Normal (BBC Two) Entertainment - Would I Lie To You? (BBC One) Entertainment Performance - Joe Lycett, Late Night Lycett (Channel 4) Strictly Come Dancing: Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell's Waltz to You'll Never Walk Alone (BBC One) Factual Entertainment - Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour (BBC Two) Factual Series - To Catch a Copper (Channel 4) Specialist Factual - Atomic People (BBC Two) Live Event Coverage - Glastonbury 2024 (BBC Two) News Coverage - BBC Breakfast: Post Office Special (BBC One) Single Documentary - Ukraine: Enemy In The Woods (BBC Two) Leading Actress - Marisa Abela, Industry (BBC One) Leading Actor - Lennie James, Mr Loverman (BBC One) Supporting Actress - Jessica Gunning, Baby Reindeer (Netflix) Supporting Actor - Ariyon Bakare, Mr Loverman (BBC One) Female Performance in a Comedy - Ruth Jones, Gavin & Stacey (BBC One) Male Performance in a Comedy - Danny Dyer, Mr Big Stuff (Sky Comedy) Reality - The Jury: Murder Trial (Channel 4) Soap - EastEnders (BBC One) Daytime - Clive Myrie's Caribbean Adventure (BBC Two) - WINNER Current Affairs - State of Rage (Channel 4) Shortform - Quiet Life (BBC Three) Sport - Paris 2024 Olympics (BBC Sport) Children's Non Scripted - FYI Investigates: Disability and Me (Sky Kids) Children's Scripted - CBeebies As You Like It at Shakespeare's Globe (CBeebies) 'But one of the best actors this country's ever produced, I'm telling you. Never done the same thing twice. Which is not something I can say. 'He wrote this part for me, so you know... I'm getting choked up again, f**k me. So you won this for me mate, I really appreciate it, thank you so much.' He finished by addressing his two daughters Dani, 28, and Sunnie, 18, who were sat in the audience and took the opportunity to swear one last time, declaring: 'Girls, Sunnie and Dani. I've done it girls, I've f***ing done it!' However, the BBC were less than impressed by the star breaking the watershed, with host Alan being forced to say: 'I've been asked to apologise for the naughty language there.' And when the moment was aired just an hour later, the broadcaster made sure to trim down Danny's speech and cut out all of his curses. Alan later accidentally let slip a swear word of his own, while presenting the prestigious BAFTA Fellowship award to journalist Kirsty Wark. The Scottish star suffered an unfortunate blunder by mistakenly introducing the award as the 'b*****d fellowship', and upon realising his error, the mortified actor let loose yet another swear, as he sheepishly muttered: 'Oh f*** me!' The Fellowship is the highest accolade bestowed by BAFTA upon an individual in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film, games or television. It was a special night for Ruth Jones, who accepted the award for female Performance in a Comedy after playing the iconic Nessa for a final time in December's Gavin & Stacey finale Kirsty was honoured for her unwavering dedication and unmatched legacy in the world of news and current affairs broadcasting. It was also a special night for Ruth Jones, who accepted the award for female Performance in a Comedy after playing the iconic Nessa for a final time in December's Gavin & Stacey finale. Accepting the award from Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall, she said: 'I really wasn't expecting this, so I wanted to thank the wonderful cast. 'Huge thank you to the BBC, such a fantastic institution which I am so proud to have worked with so many times.' Turning to her writing partner, Ruth added: 'The person I would like to thank most is my dear, kind and talented friend James Corden, with whom I have shared this astonishing journey for 17-years and without whom Vanessa Shanessa Jenson would not have existed.' Hinting at the potential of a new TV project with James, she said: 'I love you James, I love writing with you. Long may it continue.' However the show suffered disappointment in the P&O Cruises Memorable Moment category, with blind comedian Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell's Strictly Come Dancing waltz beating Smithy's wedding to the accolade. Scooping one of the biggest awards of the night, British star Marisa Abela won the Leading Actress accolade for her starring role in BBC hit Industry. Collecting her award, the tearful actress said: 'I've been filming Industry for about six years now and (production company) Bad Wolf and HBO, the fact that they let us carry on after season one is mental.' She also said she booked the BBC series, about a group of young finance graduates, in her first year of drama school and said the role of Yasmin 'changed my life' as she has gone on to play the late singer Amy Winehouse in the film Back To Black. Over in the category for Leading Actor, Rivals star David Tennant - one of the favourites for the award - lost out to Lennie James for his starring role in BBC show Mr Loverman. A shocked Lennie admitted he hadn't prepared a speech, as he 'didn't think this was coming my way'. It was the second award of the night for Mr Loverman, with Lennie's co-star Ariyon Bakare winning the Supporting Actor gong earlier that night and giving an emotional speech that moved much of the audience. Popular BBC show Would I Lie To You claimed the Entertainment Programme accolade, with stars Lee Mack, Rob Brydon and David Mitchell causing the audience to crack up with their usual witty banter. David said: 'We have been nominated eight times but this is the first time we have won. They actually abolished the category we were nominated for last year and so we thought next year we would be nominated in news, maybe a short-form drama on something that Prince Andrew has done.' Robert Rinder and Rylan Clark also found themselves among the winners, with BBC show Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour winning the Factual Entertainment award. Elsewhere Joe Lycett beat Stacey Solomon, Romesh Ranganathan, Claudia Winkleman, Graham Norton, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly to the Entertainment Performance award for Channel 4 show Late Night Lycett. Meanwhile, Glastonbury won its first TV BAFTA in an astonishing 33-years for the BBC's extensive Live Event Coverage of the event at Somerset's Worthy Farm. EastEnders also got in on the act, with the long-running BBC flagship claiming the award for Best Soap as it celebrates its milestone 40th anniversary. The broadcasting giant claimed another gong courtesy of BBC Breakfast, with the morning show winning its first ever TV BAFTA for their Post Office Special. The glitzy ceremony also saw powerful musical performances from pop stars Jessie J and Tom Grennan, marking Jessie's first TV performance in six years. And award-winning concert violinist and social media sensation Esther Abrami performed Apple Tree for the In Memoriam tribute to the TV stars that passed away this year.
Daily Mail
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Rivals cast reunite at BAFTA TV Awards as Emily Atack joins Nafessa Williams and David Tennant - but the show walks away with nothing
The Rivals cast reunited at the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards on Sunday evening -but the Disney Plus show walked away with nothing. Emily Atack was joined on the red carpet at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall by her co-stars Nafessa Williams, David Tennant, Alex Hassell and Bella Maclean. Racy comedy, Rivals - which is based on Jilly Cooper 1988 novel of the same name - saw David nominated for Leading Actor and Katherine Parkinson for Supporting Actress for their respective roles in the series. Although both lost out on gongs, the cast were all smiles as they held hands for a group photo on the red carpet. Emily, 35, wore a white dress, which boasted large shoulder pads and short sleeves, with bold leather long gloves in a nod to the eighties fashion of Rivals. Nafessa, also 35, looked incredible in a bright red PVC gown, with an off-the-shoulder neckline and front slit. Joining them was Laura Wade, Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Jilly Cooper, Danny Dyer, Felicity Blunt, Alex Lamb, and Alex Hassell. Emily was all smiles as she posed with Alex Hassell, who looked dapper in a black blazer and brown trousers complete with a brown bow tie. During the evening, in the category for Leading Actor, Rivals star David - one of the favourites for the award - lost out to Lennie James for his starring role in BBC show Mr Loverman. It was the second award of the night for Mr Loverman, with James' co-star Ariyon Bakare winning the Supporting Actor gong earlier that night. On stage at London's Royal Festival Hall, James admitted he had not 'prepared anything', explaining he 'didn't think this was coming my way'. The BBC series, a surprise hit, is based on Evaristo's novel of the same name about a man who contemplates leaving his wife for his male lover. Elsewhere, Mr. Bates vs The Post Office claimed two accolades as the annual TV BAFTA Awards. It was a promising start for ITV, but ultimately the broadcasting giant would be undermined at one of the biggest industry events of the year as the BBC swept the board following a year of triumphant programming. Auntie's undeniable dominance at this year's ceremony meant a host of favourites missed out on awards - notably ITV golden duo Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, the much-fancied Amazon Prime drama Rivals and its leading man, David Tennant. But the BBC suffered a small blow of its own after hugely popular reality show The Traitors missed out on winning its fourth consecutive award at the annual ceremony. Elsewhere, Netflix smash Baby Reindeer and the climactic Gavin & Stacey Christmas special also winning key awards in front of a full house at London's Royal Festival Hall. After claiming multiple awards since it aired in 2024 - among them a National Television Award for leading man Toby Jones, a Sky Arts Award and a Venice TV Award - groundbreaking ITV series Mr. Bates vs The Post Office was widely expected to claim much of Sunday evening's spotlight.
