Every country has strange and unusual laws, and Australia is no different. If you’re not a native, however, you either may not know about these laws or may not believe they exist. No matter the case, here are five Australian laws you should know about before travelling to Australia.
Wear Your Bicycle Helmet
Australia is one of two countries in the world that require you by law to wear a bicycle helmet if you plan on going for a ride. The goal of this law is to prevent potential head injuries, but even so, not everyone agrees with the law being in place. Until the law is repealed, however, riding without a helmet could earn you a fine anywhere between $100 and $300.
No Bulletproof Vests
If you were considering bringing along your bulletproof vest to Australia, you might want to rethink that. In Australia, it is illegal to own and wear bulletproof vests without proper licensing in South Australia, Victoria, Northern Territory, ACT, Queensland and New South Wales.
Don’t Crash a Wedding or Funeral
If you’re travelling to Australia with the intent of crashing a wedding or funeral, you may want to think again. It is illegal to do either of these things in South Australia, and those who do will be charged a $10,000 fine.
No Hooning
In Australia and New Zealand, hooning refers to people who drive recklessly or dangerously on purpose to draw attention from onlookers. This can include burnouts, speeding, doughnuts, and screeching tyres. Rather than a fine, police in Queensland are allowed to confiscate your car in response to hooning, so to save your car drive carefully.
You’re Required to Vote
Unlike in some other countries, voting is compulsory in Australia. If you’re only visiting, there’s no need to worry about this particular law, but if you plan on migrating to the country, keep this in mind. The law was enacted after the first World War, going from a 60% voter turnout in 1922 to over 91% in 1925. If you fail to vote, you must provide a legitimate excuse or pay a $20 fine; if you don’t pay that fine, the matter will be brought to court and give you a $180 fine if you’re found guilty. Whether you go to the actual polls, send your vote in from overseas, or qualify for early voting, make sure to get your vote in so you don’t face the penalties.
