Airport Security for Carry On Baggage

For safety reasons, there are rules for taking liquids, aerosols and gels on flights into and out of Australia. These rules also apply when transiting on international flights within Australia. Each container of liquids, aerosols or gels in your carry-on baggage must be 100 millilitres/grams or less. All the containers must be sealed in a transparent, one-litre plastic bag. You are only allowed one plastic bag. Any transparent resealable bag of one litre capacity or less is allowed. Please note, these bags must be independently resealable. Bags sealed with items such as sticky tape, rubber bands or ribbons will not be accepted. For more information on clear resealable bags please see the frequently asked questions section of this website. You may still carry on board prescription medicines. Baby products and non-prescription medicines that you need for the flight are also allowed. Proof of need may be required. When you get to the screening point, you will have to surrender any liquids, aerosols or gels greater than 100ml/g that you still have with you, including duty free. The rules also introduced random frisk searches as part of the screening process.
Please Note: These restrictions do not apply to checked-in baggage
These rules were introduced to protect travellers from the threat of liquid explosives. They came into effect on 31 March 2007.

Banking and Business Hours
Banks are generally open from 9.30am to 4pm from Monday to Thursday and from 9am to 5pm on Friday. Automatic teller machines (ATMs) are widely available. General office/business hours are 9am to 5pm weekdays. Post offices are open the same hours. Retail shops are open from 9am to 5.30pm from Monday to Saturday although in many country locations, shops close at midday on a Saturday. In major city centres, many retail shops are open 7 days a week and some are open late one night per week. These times vary from state to state.

Credit Cards & Money
Major credit cards are accepted almost everywhere. The most commonly accepted cards are: Visa and Mastercard as well as American Express and Diners Club. Changing foreign currency can be a problem in small rural towns, however credit cards can be used for purchases over approximately AUD $20. We recommend you obtain sufficient local currency at the airport on arrival. For information on current exchange rates visit:  www.iccfx.com/

Customs
There are strict laws prohibiting or restricting the entry of drugs, steroids, weapons, firearms, food, protected wildlife, seeds, wooden products and associated products. If you are unsure about bringing something into Australia please declare it to Customs upon arrival. (See Quarantine information below).

Dress Code
Australia is a casual country so smart comfortable clothing is suitable for most occasions. For evening events during the congress you may wish to wear appropriate evening clothes. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended on touring programs and a waterproof jacket is advisable in case of rain. We also recommend you bring a sun hat and sunscreen.

Electricity
Voltage is 220 – 240 V and plugs are flat three-pin. Adaptors for American and other electrical plugs can be purchased in airport shops, chemists and travel/luggage shops.

Health & Emergency
Australia has a high standard of health and hygiene and it is unlikely that you will encounter any health hazards. Visitors are entitled to free medical care to cater for immediate and necessary medical needs, under Australia’s national health insurance scheme if they are residents of the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands and Sweden. If you have an immediate health problem, hotel staff can arrange a doctor for you or alternatively contact the casualty section at the nearest public hospital. In an emergency call an ambulance by dialing 000. Chemists or pharmacies can fill most prescriptions, although some may need to be reissued by an Australian doctor. The sun can be very intense in Australia, even in the springtime and on overcast days. It is advisable to protect yourself from sunburn by using sunscreen, wearing a hat and sunglasses and avoiding sitting in the sun between the hours of 11am and 3pm when the sun is at its strongest.

Internet / Email Facilities
Available in most city based hotels, public libraries, airport lounges or at internet cafes in most locations. There is normally a charge for these services.

Luggage Inspection
Luggage and hand baggage may be inspected before passengers board domestic and international flights. Upon arrival into Australia all luggage may also be inspected. You will need to declare all items of a quarantine concern, otherwise you may be fined or prosecuted.

Medications
Medicinal products brought into Australia are subject to strict controls and should be declared on arrival. It is advisable to have a letter or prescription from your doctor describing your medical condition and the medication prescribed.

Passenger Movement Charge
Australia's Passenger Movement Charge (departure tax) is $A38 per person and is pre-paid with your international airline ticket. Exemptions apply to children under 12 years and 24 hour transit passengers. There may be other government, airport and sea taxes and levies applicable which are usually included in your air ticket.

Post Office
The cost of sending a standard letter within Australia is AUD 50 cents. Postcards to any destination in the world are AUD $1.00.

Quarantine
Australia’s environment is unique. Quarantine helps keep it that way. Food, plant and animal products from overseas could introduce destructive pests and diseases to the country. You can help protect our unique environment by declaring quarantine items on arrival in Australia. Quarantine items include fresh or packaged food, fruit, eggs, meat, vegetables, seeds, skins, feathers, wood and plants. The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) screens or X-rays all luggage and uses sniffer dogs to find high-risk products. AQIS also provides bins at international airports for travellers to dispose of quarantine items. Failure to declare food, plant and animal material could result in serious fines. For further information see the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service website: www.daff.gov.au/aqis

Seasons and Weather
The seasons in Australia operate in reverse to those in the Northern Hemisphere and whilst daytime temperatures may be warm and sunny, the evenings can be cool and it is always advisable to take a sweater, cardigan, wrap or light jacket with you for evening functions. The World Simmental Congress will be held in Melbourne in spring. Melbourne is located in Australia’s temperate zone with warm summers and cool winters. Autumn and spring are the most comfortable months to visit. Melbourne’s average daily temperature in September is approximately 17 to 18 degrees Celsius with night time temperatures falling to around 8 degrees Celsius. Much of Australia is still in severe drought, which has lasted for some years, and water issues are critical in both regional communities and agricultural enterprises.

Tax Free/Duty Free
Each traveller over 18 years of age can bring into Australia 2250ml of alcoholic liquor and 250 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco products duty/tax free. For other goods, including those intended as gifts, a duty/tax-free allowance of $A900 per person or $A450 per person under 18 is available. People related by birth or marriage living at the same address and travelling together (families) may pool their allowances. These articles must accompany you through Customs and must not be intended for commercial purposes.

Telephone Information and Calling Overseas
Calls from public telephones cost 40 cents. Most public telephones in Australia now use pre-paid phone cards. These can be purchased in post offices, newsagents, gift shops and many other outlets, in denominations from $5 to $50. They can be used for local, interstate and international calls. 1800 calls are free, 1300 generally require coins. Calling Overseas International Direct Dial (IDD) telephone calls can be made from most public telephones. To make an international call, dial the International Access Code (0011) then the Country Code (UK – 44), the Area Code and the Telephone Number. If the area code you are dialing begins with ‘0’ you should omit the ‘0’ from the dialing sequence.
From hotels, private telephones and public telephones, dial the international access code 0011, followed by the country code and then the number. For example:

Calling from Overseas
Australia’s country code is ‘61’. The area code for Victoria is 03, for New South Wales it is 02 and Queensland 07.
For example to call the office of Quadrant Australia from any country outside Australia, the number is: +61 2 6125 5211. (Remember to omit the ‘0’ in the area code).

Telephone Interpreting Service
This is a free service operating 24 hours a day, offering assistance in communication in over 100 languages. Call 131 450 for assistance.

Time Zones
Australia is just to the west of the International Date Line where the day “begins” and therefore the sun rises earlier in Melbourne and Sydney than in most other parts of the world. Time in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania is Australian Eastern Standard Time, which is GMT plus 10 hours.
Australia has three different time zones, Eastern (EST), Central (CST) and Western Standard Time (WST). EST is for New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland. CST is for the Northern Territory and South Australia and then there is WST in Western Australia. CST is half an hour behind EST and WST is two hours behind EST.

Time variation from Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST)

Brazil	AEST less 13 – 15 hours
Canada	AEST less 14 – 28 hours
France	AEST less 9 hours
Ireland	AEST less 10 hours
New Zealand	AEST plus 2 hours
South Africa	AEST less 8 hours
USA	AEST less 15 – 21 hours