Other Useful Information

Electricity

The electrical current in Australia is 240 volts AC, 50 Hz (frequency of currents). The Australian three pin plug (pictured below) is extremely safe. Adaptors are usually required for most foreign appliances, and a transformer will be needed for appliances from overseas that operate on a different voltage.

Daylight Saving

Daylight saving is the advancing of time by one hour ahead of the local standard time, so that there’s more daylight in the afternoons, but less in the mornings during Summer time. In Australia, excluding Queensland and Northern Territory, daylight saving begins in October and ends in April; for Australia Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria, daylight saving will commence on October 5th 2008 (2am), and finish on April 5th 2009 (3am). Daylight saving in Western Australia will commence on October 26th 2008 (2am) and finish on 29th March 2009 (3am). At the end of daylight saving, the time is put back one hour.

Tipping and Goods and Services Tax

Tipping is not the general custom in Australia and service charges are not added to accounts by hotels and restaurants. In upper-class restaurants, it is usual to tip food and drink waiters up to 10 per cent of the bill for good service. In bars and taxis, tipping is also not expected, but many people do leave some of their coin change behind. Porters have set charges at railway terminals, but not at hotels. However, at any time, tipping is a matter of individual choice.

Most goods, services and other items sold or consumed in Australia will incur a broad-based 10% Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Smoking, drinking and drugs

Australia has very strict anti-smoking, drugs and alcohol laws. People can be fined for smoking in prohibited areas, and for consuming alcohol in public unlicensed places. In Victoria, smoking is prohibited in enclosed workplaces including restaurants, cafes, shopping centres, gambling venues, and licensed premises. It is also prohibited at underage festival events (indoors and outdoors), and covered areas of train station platforms, tram and bus shelters. Other states and territories have different prohibitions, which you can view by going to www.smokefree.org.au.

In Australia, people engaged in any illegal narcotics related activities will find themselves fined and/or imprisoned.

Rubbish

Australians are an environmentally conscious nation, and its population is keen to preserve the country’s natural beauty and scenery. Littering (dropping your rubbish on the streets) in Australia is illegal; people found littering will be issued with a fine. There are many rubbish bins on the streets for people to dispose of their trash. You will find bins for recyclables, non-recyclables and cigarette buds. Please throw your rubbish accordingly, and never dispose of cigarette buds in normal bins, as this may start a fire.