Fire Bans
Respect fire bans (broadcast on the radio) and be
careful with cigarette butts and broken glass which can ignite
bushfires in hot, dry weather. If caught in a fire head for a clearing
(avoid dense tree growths). If in a car get off the road, stay in the
vehicle, get under the dashboard and cover yourself, preferably with a
woollen blanket.
Bushwalking
If bushwalking or
camping be sure to leave an itinerary with friends and go carefully
prepared for the contingency of getting lost. Remember that nights can
be freezing despite the daytime temperature.
Personal Safety
By world standards Australia is a benign community.
There are no definable no-go areas in any of the major cities and, as a
general principle, it is safe to travel anywhere in the country. To
give some idea of the of the scale of crime in Australia, Sydney is the
countryıs largest city and inevitably, like any large city, it has its
share of crime. Common sense is necessary. In both Kings Cross and
around Oxford Street be sensible. They are perfectly safe areas but
people have been known to be beaten up and robbed by youths. There are
over 12 000 police in the state. In 1992-93 there were 110 homicides
(1.9 per 100 000 people) and 4 513 sexual assaults (75.7 per 100 000)
throughout New South Wales.
Note that condoms are available at chemists, some
all-night stores and at vending machines in the toilets of universities
and many hotels. The pill is only available on prescription which
requires a visit to a doctor.
Quarantine Arrangements
Australia is a beautiful country free from many
pests and diseases found elsewhere in the world. Quarantine helps keep
it that way.
When entering Australia, it's vital that you declare on
your Incoming Passenger Card any food, live plants and animals and any
items made from wood, plants or animals.
Quarantine officers use detector dog teams, X-ray
machines and random baggage checks to detect undeclared quarantine
items. If you conceal itemsof quarantine concern, you may receive an
on-the-spot fine or you could be prosecuted.
More quarantine information for travellers is
available on the Australia Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) web
site: http://www.aqis.gov.au
