Australians who marry a foreigner overseas will be hit with a 50 per cent increase in partner visa application fees from this week.
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The cost will rise from $4630 to $6865, which is the same fee as if the application were lodged in Australia, the Department of Immigrations says.
This is the second time this year the price of applying for an offshore partner visa has risen. In January, applicants were hit with a price increase of more than $1500, from $3085 an application to $4630.
The changes are expected to raise $373.6 million over four years.
Prescriptions up
The cost of some prescription medications will rise on July 1. The commonly used anti-cholesterol drug Atorvastatin will rise by $2.39; and blood pressure medication Candesartan will rise by $2.06.
Roads and tolls
The good news is the cost of toll roads across Sydney stay pretty much the same. The M7 rise is 1¢, making the maximum toll $7.66. Registering your car will cost an extra dollar and the cost of a 10-year driver's licence will rise by $8. Licence fees are halved if you have a clean record.
Lights out for smokers
A ban on smoking in all commercial outdoor dining areas in NSW, including clubs, restaurants, hotels and cafes, will come into force on July 6.
Under the Smoke-free Environment Act 2000, all ignited smoking products including cigars, cigarettes, pipes and water-pipes will be banned in seated outdoor dining areas while food is being served.
The NSW Health Director of the Centre for Population Health, Dr Jo Mitchell, said the ban was aimed at reducing the effects of second-hand smoke.
"Four out of five people support the ban and there is strong public support for making outdoor dining areas smoke-free. A number of businesses have already voluntarily banned smoking in their outdoor dining areas, with positive results," she said.
Businesses that provide water pipes to smoke with – known as hookah, argileh or shisha – will not be exempted from the laws, despite concerns the ban may alienate customers.
Smoking will also be prohibited within four metres of "pedestrian access points", meaning patrons wishing to smoke near a licensed venue will be required to do so four metres away from all club entrances and exits.
Breaches of the ban will attract on-the-spot fines of up to $300 for individuals and penalties of up to $5500 for businesses that ignore the ban.
