I plan on attending school in Australia and i was wondering if anyone can give me some insite on laws that shouldn't be broken there.
Other - Australia - 6 Answers
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1 :
I have no idea what "corky" laws are, I've never heard of them. Generally, as far as laws are concerned, it is advisable not to break any of them. If you are going to drive a car, the police can stop you at random and test you for blood alcohol. You will most likely be caught and booked if you speed, do not wear a seatbelt or use your mobile phone while driving. For the most part the laws are much the same in Australia as they are in the rest of the world. The drinking age is 18 and the age of consent for sex is 16 (17 in Tasmania and South Australia and 18 for male/male sex in Queensland).
2 :
Maybe they mean corkage laws ? You can bring your own wine and beer into alot of restaurants (called BYOB ) BUT they can, and do charge you for opening your bottles for you. It can vary from a couple of dollars to $ 4-5 for better restaurants. Even if you twist the top off of your own beer, they can charge you a fee, even if they haven't put their mitts on your bottle. They also have cakeage laws .... where they cut and serve your birthday cake or wedding cake, and charge you an arm and a leg per slice, but if you don't get married, or have a big birthday bash, you should be right mate. The laws here are basically the same as in the States - so if you're known as a nice-guy there, you should have no problems here. No drugs, drinking and driving loud parties after a certain time follow the speed laws ( if you can find them posted - if you can't...tough luck - the cops know what they are ) etc etc ... From ToxicCustard: ***From my observations, it's probably true that Americans abroad have a certain reputation. I don't think this is entirely deserved, but is caused by the loudest most obnoxious, and hence most noticeable, minority. (These people are also highly unlikely to realise that they have these annoying traits.) So, my advice for anyone going overseas (and this probably applies anywhere - not just to Australia): Don't be loud. Take a moment to listen. If everyone else is talking quieter than you, you're being loud. Try not to look too much like a tourist. Don't wear a shiny tracksuit if you're not on your way to training. Keep your camera tucked away. Don't even think about wearing a bumbag. (and don't call it a fanny pack - fanny is Ozzie speak for the front girlie-bits ! ) Don't complain about things being different from at home. That's the whole point of going away. Even if you don't learn all the local lingo, at least learn how to pronounce the place names properly. Hang with the locals, don't stick to the tourist traps. You'll probably have a better time, and you'll certainly get a better taste of the place. But don't patronise the locals. Don't call anything "quaint" unless it really is. Leave a good impression. Make up for your obnoxious countrymen.*** It's a great website, for some general do's and don't's...... http://www.toxiccustard.com/australia/visiting.html
3 :
I'm sorry, what is a corky law? We don't have any wild laws like you might think, like no riding kangaroos after midnight, always wear an akubra hat and so forth, we aren't that weird. Drive on the left hand side of the road, always wear your seatbelt, drinking age is 18. Oh yeah, we aren't allowed to kill people either. A shame that... We have pretty much the same, or similar laws as the US and UK.
4 :
It is illegal to roam the streets wearing black clothes, felt shoes and have black shoe polish on your face as these are the items of an cat burglar...(hmmm yes I can see how black shoes polish would make you invisible to the police) It is illegal to walk on the right hand side of the pavement...(We drive on the left...we walk on the left!) Taxi cabs are required to carry a bale of hay in the trunk...(incase of hay emergencies) In Victoria, it is illegal to wear hot pink shorts after midday on a Sunday...(it worries me that it's legal before midday on a Sunday!) A life sentence is 200 years...(makes sense to me) Children may not purchase cigarettes, condoms or alcohol, but they may use them...(we'd prefer our children pilfer cigarettes, condoms and alcohol!) You may never leave your car keys in the door of an unattended vehicle...(where I live, if you leave your keys in the car, it'll be gone before the cops show up to give you a ticket, so i wouldn't worry too much about this one ;P) It is illegal to dress up as batman...(oooookay...) Under Australian Communications Authority (ACA) regulations, a modem can't pick up on the first ring. If it does the, ACA permit for your modem is invalid and there's a $12,000 fine. -Telecommunications Act 1991...(I want to meet the poor little guy who has to monitor this law) Bars are required to stable, water and feed the horses of their patrons...(because we all ride horses to the pub of course) Some state laws: Victoria · Only licensed electricians may change a light bulb. The fine for not abiding by this law is 10 pounds...(stop me if you've heard this one...How many Licensed electricians does it take to change a light bulb?) · You must have a neck to knee swimsuit in order to swim at Brighton Beach....(I would look fricken awesome in a neck to knee swimsuit)
5 :
As a visitor to Australia probably the laws that you might not be used to is the driving laws. There are speed cameras over a good portion of Australia and they can stop you while driving with no cause. They can merely want to check you out for a variety of reasons.
6 :
Heavens knows what yu meAN by "corky" laws!!! But Australia has pretty much the same laws as most "developed" countries and most are borrowed/based on Laws/principles from England with a few of our own modifications along the way. The basics are: NO GUNS- they are restricted and highly controlled. DRIVE ON THE LEFT ie in an Australian car on an Australian road the driver should always be toward the middle of the road- if you are closest to the verge you are on the wrong side of the road. ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SEAT BEAT -its the law NEVER DRINK DRIVE- .05 is the limit NO HOONING DONT BUY/USE DRUGS DONT BE A LITTER BUG- ON THE SPOT FINES OBEY SPEED LIMITS- ask a local what the maximums are or go to a Government service ccentre for a learner drivers book. In Tassie the Max on a highway is generally 110 kmh, 60 on major suburban link roads, 50 on all other streets, 40 in a school zone to give you an idea of the kinds of speeds involved -- (milesph -> kmh = mph/6 then *10) ie 36mph=60kmh (and our cops hide in bushes with speed guns or cameras booking people- you wont know until the fine arrives in the mail!) DONT EXPECT AUSTRALIANS TO THINK THE SUN SHINES OUT OF AMERICAS A$^%$% (anal sphincter). Because we get peeved off with how Americans think the world revolves around America. NEVER EVER USE THE WORD "FANNY" as someone else said in Aus it means female "genitalia". THONGS ARE THINGS THAT GO ON YOUR FEET not up your bum- you call thongs "flip flops" or something strange. NO ALCHOHOL AT MOST MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS WE DONT GIVE TIPS (tips may be nice for genuinely excellent service but are not part of our culture- its not expected) DONT CALL PEOPLE MAAM / SIR aus is informal, the most formal form of address is pretty much Mr/Mrs.
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