KHANI pays up for Kicking Hole in Fence.

Our Mr Soheil (Sam) Khani attended the compulsory Mediation Conference at the Hobart Magistrate's Court to fight the claim that he had kicked & punched holes in the side fence of neighbours Tony & Valentyna Jacobs on several occasions.

He very loudly & verbosely proclaimed that he never had, nor ever would, do anything like that.

However when confronted with a Court transcript of evidence by his wife in a previous proceeding that she had seen him kick holes in the fence (but only when angry) he suddenly remembered once kicking such a hole.
He subsequently paid into Court $150 as an agreed payment to the Jacobs'.

Meanwhile little appears to have changed at 102 Harrington St except that the owner Mr Khani has grown a long white beard.

We share with you the laments of 4 of his recent guests:-

“A Horror-ington 102 Experience”

Reviewed 15 July 2014 via mobile

For anyone who would like to "enjoy" their trip to Hobart should avoid this hotel at all cost. I recommend Narella Backpacker near it proved more comfortable. During my 4 nights stay at this miniature replica of H.H.Holmes's Murder Castle, I had a great time making my own bed, buying breakfast (one at hotel is awful - weetbix, bread and jam with milk), and plugging my ears while sleeping to keep out noises from banging of doors. There was just a lady staying on second floor but no other guests. There was No lift, No hot shower at night, No lock on door, No utensils, No WiFi on 3rd floor, No staff on standby at night and worst of all, No Refund! Never be lured by the decency of the ground floor; it's just a trick to attract gullible tourists.

“Very disappointing, not what was advertised.”

Reviewed 2 January 2015

I booked this hotel for the price, it was the least expensive where I could have a room and a private ensuite for the time I was in Hobart (Christmas week). On the positive side, my room was ready when I arrived (around noon). It was clean and the bed was comfy. But that is all for the good stuff.

The room needs a little maintenance, there were holes in the wall, some paint was scratched off the wall. Not very inviting. After the woman at reception showed me my room I asked her the wi-fi code. She gave it to me straight away, but when I tried to connect my device, I couldn't find the network, not the name she gave me, nor any other. It's ok I said to myself I was going to ask her on my way out, but surprise, reception was closed when I got downstairs. If we needed to reach her, we had to ring a number. Well, that is fine when you have a phone, but when you come from another country you don't always have an unlocked mobile phone, so you usually only use it with wi-fi... When I went back later, she told me there was wi-fi only at reception, not in the rooms, but it is advertised otherwise online (wifi is available in ALL areas).

The room was never cleaned the time I was there (I don't mind using the same sheets or towels for the 5 nights I stayed), but there were no sweeping, no emptying the bin, no cleaning at all.
Also, there was rarely someone at reception, so if you needed anything you had to call. But there are no phone in the room! I was checking out early, so I wonder where I would leave the key and all, but again there was nobody to answer me. I met the woman by chance in the stairs, so I asked her then... What would have I done? 

Probably leave the key at the counter... I don't call this service.
It was also advertised that breakfast was included in the room rate, well every morning I got to reception (different hours - 7am or 8am), there was no breakfast, there were tables set up but no food in sight...and no staff around.
I could not change hotel as it was too expensive elsewhere and I would probably have to pay for this room anyway (was too late to cancel) so I stayed there for the five nights I had paid for, but I booked tours so I wouldn't have to spend too much time in that establishment. I wouldn't recommend this hotel and I wouldn't call this place luxury apartments as the sign says outside. 

It's rundown and has no service.

• Stayed December 2014, travelled solo

“Never again”

Reviewed 1 January 2015

We stayed here because we had to. Hobart was booked out for New Year's Eve. Never again. False advertising. These are far from luxury rooms. Drains smelled rooms dirty. It looked like something from Kings Cross in the sixties. It saving grace was it was very close to the city and Taste of Tasmania

Stayed December 2014, travelled as a couple

“Terrible hotel”

Reviewed 29 December 2014

My partner and I stayed here for 2 nights. We arrived at 8pm on a Friday night there was no one at reception. We were locked outside in the cold, had to call a phone number & wait for someone to attend which was 15 minutes in the cold. The receptionist said there was no elevator. Walking up the stairs it was very creepy and reminded us of a mental instituation. We had a room with a balcony. The room was tiny and the heater took about 25 minutes to go on because the generator was so far away. The room was old & smelly. The balcony was small. When we checked out we were unable to leave our bags at reception as no one attends the reception. You need to call them for someone to come & because of that we had to spend the rest of the day carrying our luggage around. I would never stay here again. Location was in the city but not near the water front. Next time I will stay somewhere on the water. This is extremely budget accomodation.

Stayed September 2014, travelled as a couple

“Easter nightmare at Harringtons 102”

Reviewed 18 April 2014

terrible, had to phone someone to get in the hotel. No wi fi in the room as stated on website.had to sit in the lobby..very budget hotel..at 110 dollars per night..small rooms with no windows. -( breakfast is weetbix and instant coffee.

Room Tip: Very budget hotel..poor service!!

Mehrab-Khani Served With New Summons

Follow up from last story:

Former neighbour has taken out and served a Summons for damages caused by Mr. Khani kicking and sometimes punching holes in their joint fence.

Mr. Jacobs said that the first five or six holes were caused back in 2010 when Mr. Khani in fits of apparently uncontrollable temper lashed out on the fence on several occasions.

On one memorable occasion Khani smashed a hole about 60cm high and 20cm wide with his bare right hand high near the rear of the fence.

His arm was in plaster for about the next month.

He later claimed in court that there was no connection.

Jacobs said he had a builder effect repairs and requested payment but didn't persue after Mr. kihani made no reply to a letter. He said he decided to let it go unless there was a repetition.

On Regatta Day this year Mr. Khani who was working at the front of 178 Brisbane Street was screaming out "waycist" to Mr. Jacobs as he was about to drive off. ( He has the same trouble with the letter "R" as Michael Palin in "The Life Of Brian".)

Mr. Jacobs said that as he left Mr. Khani put two fingers up and flexed his right arm and thrust it upwards.

The hole in the adjoing fence was kicked soon afterwards.

The Summons has included the cost of paint to paint over graffiti previously sprayed by Mr. Khani onto the front of the Jacobs property.

Mr. Khani had until April 21st to pay the claim or file a Defense failing which a Judgement by Default can be entered against him.

Khani smashes a hole in neigbours fence--again!

In what appears to have been a fit of rage, Khani has smashed a hole into his neighbours fence.
This is the second time he has put a hole in the fence, the last time he appeared to sustain an
injury and carried a plaster cast on his arm for a month.

This time he appears to have used something else to bash a large hole in the fence.
Neighbour Tony Jacobs reports that this is the second incident where his fence has been damaged and he has had to pay for repairs.

A summons has been issued against Khani.

Photographs to follow.

Khani's Hobart Lodge "not recommended" --Trip Advisor

From Trip Advisor

“Not recommended”

Reviewed 12 April 2014

QueenslandCoaster

A relatively modern establishment, let down by poor design elements:
a) There is no lift even though there are three floors. Forget trying to carry your luggage upstairs if you are an older traveller

b) There is no extractor fan in the bathroom/toilet, which opens off the kitchen area

c) The kitchen sink is on a free standing unit that does not have a bench attached so washing up is tedious

d) There is a two-seater couch but this is in the bedroom directly below and facing away from the wall mounted TV. If you want to watch TV you must do so from the bed

e) The King bed is actually two single units pushed together. The mattresses are very soft and potentially dangerous for anyone with back problems. Pillows and spare "blankets" are are ludicrously thin.

The establishment is also let down by bad management and meanness:
a) No onsite manager. Before you arrive you have to call a number and the person at the other end will tell someone to meet you in the car park and let you into your room

b) Skirting boards were covered in thick dust and the inside of the fridge was dirty. I don't believe they employ professional cleaners because as people checked out I saw the manager carrying a standard household vacuum cleaner into the vacated rooms

c) There was no milk provided to make a hot drink on arrival
d) Only two thin towels were provided for a three night stay and zero room service or cleaning over those days

e) Only one saucepan was provided in the kitchen and very few kitchen utensils in the drawer

d) The wine glasses were plastic and scratched

e) The hair dryer was in a kitchen cupboard - an unhygienic practice

f) We only lasted one night of the three but were refused any refund
There were some positive points:

a) The kitchen utility knife was sharp and large enough to be useful

b) There was an excellent stove top and conventional oven in the kitchen, including a rotisserie and a roasting pan

c) Excellent location close to restaurants and shops, but quite a drive is required if you need a supermarket

Room Tip: Keep to the ground floor rooms if you must stay here

See more room tips

• Stayed April 2014, travelled as a couple

Hobart Lodge -- Polish Couple Treated Very Badly

From  Booking.com on 6th March:

Katarzyna

Couple

  Poland

March 6, 2014

NOTHING!!! This is the worst place to stay in Tasmania. 

Do not choose it!!! The worst hotel, I have ever seen, I have ever been to.

I have chosen the Hobart Lodge, because of free Wi – Fi, 

that I need every day. During the reservation process via 

booking.com, I was asked if I need to have some request. 

I ask for the possibility of checking in little earlier, 

because I was traveling with my friends all the night. When I 

came to the Hotel in Hobart there was no one in the reception!!! 

I mean there was no reception at all. No one told me about it

during reservation! The Hotel was closed. There was a sheet of 

paper with telephone number to call. 

I had to call from our 

mobiles to ask somebody to come and open the building for me and

my friends. And wait until someone will come. For about 15 minutes 

came man in age 55 - 60. 

He let us come inside the building with our 

luggage and inside the room. But unfortunately the room was not cleaned 

after previous tourists. 

It was about 13.00 and the owner of this hotel 

started trying to find someone who cleans the rooms. 

I asked him to let us leave our luggage at the hotel and we 

told him we would like to go to the city. But that man, 

probably manager of that place did not agree for that. 

He was very impolite for us from the beginning! He did not 

let us leave the luggage inside the room, what is more he did not let us 

leave the luggage inside the hotel. He told us to get out with all our luggage. 

We had to wait with all our luggage on the pavement near the street, 

outside the hotel. We were crouching with our luggage on the pavement for 

almost one hour waiting until the room will be ready!!! 

We were very tired, we could not change our clothes. 

I would like to remind You that on website about the Hobart Lodge 

there is written very clear: "we help with transport from the Airport 

and we provide a luggage office". We have never met with such behavior!!! 

Never!!! 

Rude manager of the hotel. It never happens!!! And this place has 4 stars! 

The manager of that hotel left us with our luggage just on the street and then he went by his car.

KHANI TRIES AGAIN to SELL 102 HARRINGTON St

Following failed efforts through Knight Frank (who eventually refused to act further for Mr Khani) & through Colliers the property is now listed for sale by PRD Nationwide of Montrose.

The address is withheld but "available on request". You would think Harrington 102 would give you a clue as to the address! Hint, think of a street...!

Price "By Negotiation" but he hopes to get at least $1 million
Some of the descriptions are great examples of word manipulation that the world now sees so much of.
To sooth opposition to gambling proponents now advertise "gaming".

Psychology has shown us that we can feel differently about a policy depending on how it is worded. In fact words that mean the same thing can provoke completely different responses. So for example, people are more likely to approve and vote for "gays in the military" than "homosexuals". Likewise, people are happier with the concept of "income sharing" than "income splitting", and "drilling for oil" becomes "energy exploration."

Persian marble sounds far more exotic than Iranian marble. But looking at the "Persian Marble" from the owners own web site (see last post and reviews before), you overwhelmingly couldn't care less where it's from, given the condition of the bathroom.

PRD Montrose state in their spiel that the "Hotel" (it is not a registered Hotel) has a "state-of-the-art entrance lobby". Lonely Planet says this about Harrington 102, "After the shock of the naff postmodern office facade subsides..."

Here is one of the photo's from PRD Montrose, hardly state-of-the-art:

The site's window advertises "Luxury Accommodation".
Lets look at a few photo's posted at Trip Advisor:

This is not luxury as I understand it, nor it it ultra modern as the owner Soheil Mehrab-Khani portrays it. This is not even subtle advertising, it is blatant misrepresentation, and many reviews that the room does not match the description.

Now, the Real Estate Ad boasts "Contemporary Magic".

From wikipedia:

• Magic (paranormal), the use of paranormal methods to manipulate natural forces (e.g., witchcraft)
• Magic (illusion), the art of appearing to perform supernatural feats (e.g., magic tricks)
• Magic in fiction, attributed to extraordinary beings or objects (commonly, as magical or magically)

Magic In Fiction would seem to be the best fit!
 
A string of ex guests have complained of unsafe wiring, dodgy power points, and risks to life and limb through lack of a fire escape.

Is the "magic" that nobody has been injured?

The Real Estate Ad also lauds "immaculate presentation"

We know what "immaculate conception" means, but does "immaculate presentation" really describe things recently reviewed like-
-holes in the wall where fittings have been removed,
-mouldy bathroom tiles,
-squeaky doors,and
-claustrophobic rooms with opaque glass windows?

As the most recent review above states, "We declined breakfast as the whole place was so dirty that we did not want to risk health."

It's enough to make Mehrab-Khani very angry-

Harrington 102 --It's Own Website Has Filthy Bathroom Picture

The "Persian" Marble (sounds a lot better than Iranian) that is advertised in the Harrington 102 web site has a filthy picture of their toilet/bathroom. There have been numerous complaints about filth and dirt at this accommodation facility (see last 2 reviews for example), and the Harrington's own web site has this photograph:

No view of the broken shower door that won't close or the toilet seat broken in several places as per the last review, but I think we get the idea!

Beware Harrington 102 --"Broken Toilet Seat in Several Places", Dirty and a Health Risk!

From Agoda.com:

Compact, nowhere to sit except the bed!! No window Location 3.3 Extremely disappointing!. Have never been caught like that before when booking on-line. This room didnt even have a chair or a window!We travelled around Tassie for the week and happy with the other accommodation bookings on line but this was a disgrace to Tourism Tasmania!! Shouldnt be accredited. Report this review

You get what you pay for...almost!!!!

Central to all activities

3.3

The room was appalling and a health hazard. Firstly noticed grit on floor. Room was exceptionally TINY. Toilet seat broken in several places. Shower door broken and would not close. Shelf in shower on such angle as to not able to hold soap,shampoo/conditioner etc. No milk left in fridge as to make tea/coffee. Poor TV reception. Noisy - with loud music, laughter etc emanating from other rooms. Unable to sleep from TV noise from adjoing room. All in all would never stay there again, nor would I recommend to anyone else. We declined breakfast as the whole place was so dirty that we did not want to risk health.

Harrington 102 gets ANOTHER bad review, once again!

No surprise here, Soheil Mehrab-Khani aka Sam has garnered another very negative reviews from his accomodation facility (it is not a registered Hotel) again.

Be warned, Mehrab-Khani has a long history of doing the wrong thing, whether it's building code violation or providing sub standard accommodation.

This latest review from Trip Advisor should serve as a warning -- beware of dealing with Soheil Mehrab-Khani and his accommodation facilities at Harrington 102 and the new Hobart Lodge.

From Trip Advisor:
http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Hotel_Review-g255097-d300914-Reviews-Harrington_s_102-Hobart_Tasmania.html

“Never Again!!!!”

Reviewed 2 weeks ago

I had the unfortunate experience of staying here last night. I travel to Tasmania 6 times a year for business & due to my usual place I stay at being full, had to settle with this pathetic excuse for a hotel.

Upon arrival the lady at reception asked for payment immediately after telling her my name. I told it should be sorted as it was organised by a lady at my work. She said she was experiencing problems with her internet & hadn't received any notification at all & insisted that I provides credit card or I won't get the room.

Should've walked out at that point. Room was tiny, small space on floor for suitcase, glass bricks for windows, no iron or irning board, bathroom was filthy with no soap holder in shower, no towel rail & loose toilet roll holder that kept slipping resulting in toilet roll falling onto floor.

I was told breakfast is served from 7am but when I went down at 7.10am nothing was ready & the guy who was supposed to be doing it was too busy talking to, cuddling & kissing his girlfriend. When she saw me, she managed to pry herself away from him & sit on the couch so he could do what he his paid to do. He couldn't move any slower if he tried & it took him about 15 minutes to do so. During this time I went & packed my bags & took them out to my car & when I saw what was on offer wondered why I even bothered. By this stage he was back on the couch watching TV with the girl.

Went back to room & brushed my teeth & couldn't get out of there quick enough. When leaving, the guy, who was now alone & having a smoke outside just told me to leave key on reception counter. No goodbye, did you enjoy your stay, have a good day, NOTHING!!!

Will be telling anybody & everybody that I hear of coming to Hobart to avoid this place like the plague!!!!!!!!!!

• Stayed January 2014

Mehrab-Khani's Hobart Lodge -- Beware: New Accommodation Facility, Same Bad Service.

Soheil Mehrab-Khani aka Sam is offering the same bad service including surcharge with no prior warning being docked from credit cards, dirty floors, dirty toilet and with this new accommodation facility which "appears quickly built with dodgy doors and locks." (no surprise there!)

Complaints from Hobart Lodge range from lacking hygiene to owners having an "angry face" and looking like "he did not want to be there.

Some googling on Soheil Mehrab-Khani will clearly show he has 2 criminal convictions, both related to violence and a string of building and modifying without approval court cases.

Be warned before you book Hobart Lodge. Meanwhile the first reviews from Booking.com are in:

http://www.booking.com/hotel/au/hobart-lodge.en-gb.html?aid=318615;label=New_English_EN_ROW_Hotel-OAIlk_J4_GKPAUB%2AV8wv0AS25582900945%3Apl%3Ata%3Ap1%3Ap2%3Aac%3Aap1t2%3Aneg%3Akw_inurl%3Abooking.com%2Fhotel%3Aws%3D;sid=2f65aefc9a52853735e89e7294c144f6;dcid=1;srfid=080c545937094634b23ab65823ecb86015f84c2aX1;tab=4

• Angelina

  Family with older children

    Chatswood,Australia

  23 January 2014
  Proximity to lots of restaurants in North Hobart.

  Caretaker, Sam looked like he did not want to be there. Not friendly or helpful. I had booked 2 rooms: one had a dirty toilet even though allegedly cleaned. The 2nd apartment had dirty floor next to bed- muddy foot prints and area under sink had disintegrated piece of sponge. Laundry is mean to be open from 8 am to 6 pm but opened after and closed before making it impossible for guests to use it especially when one is out sightseeing during the day.

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  4.6

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• Jae

  Young couple

    Gladesville,Australia

  15 January 2014
  There was terrible place in the world. We stayed 3 night,they had surcharged without notice. So we asked that issues to agency. When we arrived, staff (the owner & wife) had angry face instead of greeting and complained what we request extra surcharge to agency. *internet signal always lost and just use in front of door. That mean can not use in the bedroom *need to ask more towels and hot drinks every day, but reception open late and close early. *there was too noisy outside unit. couldn't sleep well.

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  3.3

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• Brenda

  Mature couple

    SHEARWATER,Australia

  10 January 2014
  Only been opened a week and obviously Management are still experiencing some construction problems and lack of knowledge in accommodation letting. Location great, bed extremely comfortable, great kitchen-lacking in cooking utensils, bowls. Convenient parking.

  No towel racks, no lounge area (watch TV in bedroom), charged a surcharge on cr card without prior notice (this has now been refunded due to my official complaint). Brand new (unwashed ) tea towels provided. Appartments obviously let out before any inside detailing completed, ie sawdust in cupboards in bathroom, paint over metal window frames, grouting not cleaned off tiles, hole in ceiling next to Tastic. WOULD I STAY HERE AGAIN? No not at the current price.

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  6.3

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• Cathy

  Mature couple

    Bertram, Australia

  6 January 2014
  Location

  No towel rail, no block out curtains and no wi-fi.

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  6.7

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• Anonymous

  Mature couple

    Australia

  28 January 2014
  Great location, close to the bus stop and restaurants, supermarkets. The street is quite at night. *** The building is new, new carpet, good shower. Bed linen and towels change when necessary.

  Many things. Management does not know much about service. *** As a guest you feel that you do not have anything to say or wish. There is not enough furniture and the kitchen is barely equipped, no strainer, not enough pots, good cutting knife missing, no big bowls. In certain spots very dirty, like under the sink, disintegrated piece of sponge (cleaner used too strong chemicals to clean- excuse from management). Cleaner came once and did not clean under the sink. *** WIFI and laundry are not for the guests. WIFI is password protected and there is no code in the room and the signal is not that good either. Laundry is a joke, it is locked at all times and you have to chase the manager if you want to use it and pay $7.50 first. But you are also encouraged not to use it and use alternative laundromats in Hobart. *** Snack bar are the normal coffee and tea and cheap sweets. No milk *** There is no place to leave your luggage if you have to check out later. *** There is no love in this building, dodgy construction, weird management. I would not go there again, sorry.

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  4.6

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• Anonymous

  Mature couple

    Australia

  23 January 2014
  The position, the bed was very comfortable. The manager was very helpful.

  The entrance and outside areas of the apartment are very unappealing, the fully equipped kitchen needs bowls, strainer, wine and champagne glasses not plastic wine glasses. Cleanliness was barely OK.

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  7.5

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• Anonymous

  Young couple

    Australia

  15 January 2014
  It was located in a lovely part of north hobart where if you wander down the street you'll find nice pubs and cafes as well as a really lovely cinema. The apartment itself had aircon and heating and a really comfy bed!

  The building appeared to be quickly built with dodgy doors and locks. Also we were placed downstairs which was below street level; this dampened our experience as we were not told this would be the case.

KHANI ACCOMODATION APPROVED BY ONLY 2 of 12 REVIEWERS IN 2014.

Bookings.com seems to have become the main source of business for HARRINGTON’s 102.

In the 2 weeks to January 16^th--12 guests reviewed it on that site.

Here are their stories.

Australian couples on 4^th & 8^th liked it’s city location & found the Khani’s friendly.

10 other reviewers saw it very differently.

An Australian couple described the Khani’s as “rude & aggressive” & said they had to wait in the street ½ an hour to get entry.

A couple from Deloraine said of Soheil Khani “he just did not care”.

A Swedish couple on Jan 16^th said that they were given the impression that the response to any requests made them feel that that they were disturbing the staff.

The same couple were incredulous that the bathroom was not cleaned during their 7 day stay.

Other facility complaints included:-

-power points dodgy…unsafe, not working or exposed

-unsafe wiring (a different visitor)

-dirty mouldy bathroom tiles

-tiny room

-2 people have trouble moving in the rooms

- a chair with 3 legs (which was 1 up on a Lane Cove couple who got no chair at all)

-shower screen dodgy

- room old, tired & not clean

-no curtain on window & thus no privacy

-no windows

-like a prison cell

-no fresh air

-terrible bed

-extremely noisy

-facilities far less than advertised

-facilities like washing machine, wi fi & room inclusions either broken or withdrawn

There were the usual complaints about the “self serve cereal & toast breakfast”.

One Australian couple suggested that they scrap “breakfast” as it was so bad.

Several noted the place as over priced.

One couple listed many faults & ended “need I go on”.

Another couple noted it was their “worst accommodation experience ever”.

Meanwhile there has been a 2^nd Review of the “Hobart Lodge” 399-405 Elizabeth St.

The people, from NW Tas, complained of sawdust in cupboards, no towel racks & no lounge area & said the price was too high.

That couple are to be congratulated because they obtained a refund  for a surcharge applied to their Credit Card without notification.

It’s unsure if that was from their Bank or Mr Khani, presumably the former as getting money due from Soheil Khani is extremely difficult.

Mr Khani sure likes to rake in the dough.

No one is going to die from paying too much but what about the risks from the alleged unsafe & dodgy electrical wires & power points?

And, if there are dirty, mouldy tiles that ain’t too good for your health either.

Where are the HCC, Tourism Tasmania & Workplace Standards?