Nearly every country and jurisdiction has its fair share of strange laws. While some of these come from specific historical periods, others are surprisingly modern.
If you’re planning a trip to Australia, you might want to review some of these unique regulations to avoid facing a fine or other penalties.
Here are 15 Australian laws that might make American travelers do a double take:
1. Don’t Take a Fridge on the Train
Attempting to move large items by passenger rail is illegal in Australia. In 2017, a man in Queensland was fined $252 for trying to move his fridge on a train.
Other Australians have also been unsuccessful in attempting to board trains with items like couches, lawnmowers, and even a front door.
The rule is that if it doesn’t fit in the luggage racks, you’re not allowed to board with it, and authorities are very strict about this.
2. No Flying Kites in Victoria
In Victoria, flying a kite or playing a game in a public place “to the annoyance of any person” is an offense under Section 4 of the Summary Offences Act 1966.
While flying a kite is legal if you don’t bother anyone, if you are found guilty, you could owe a fine of up to $826.10.
3. Don’t Sing Obscene Ballads
Also under the Summary Offences Act 1966 in Victoria, singing obscene songs or ballads in public places is prohibited.
This rule is part of a larger prohibition against all obscene or threatening language in public. What counts as obscene or threatening can be vague.
If authorities find you guilty, you could face a fine of up to $1,169 or spend two months in prison for a first offense.
4. No Extra-Large Fridges
South Australia has a law prohibiting the sale of fridges that hold 42.5 liters or more. This is part of the Summary Offences Act 1955.
There are exceptions: the refrigerator is legal if all doors can be opened from the inside, or if it was built and brought into the country before 1962.
5. No Ringing Doorbells for Fun
If you’ve ever played “Ding Dong Ditch,” be aware that in South Australia, the Summary Offences Act 1953 includes a provision against unlawfully ringing doorbells.
The law states that a person who “without reasonable excuse, disturbs another by willfully pulling or ringing the doorbell of a house or by knocking at the door of a house is guilty of an offence”. This means a game of Ding Dong Ditch could result in a $250 fine.
6. Don’t Disrupt Weddings or Funerals
Disrupting religious services, including weddings and funerals, is illegal in South Australia according to another ordinance in the Summary Offences Act 1953. Doing so could subject you to a hefty $10,000 fine.
7. Leave The Bird Poo, Please
In Western Australia, according to Section 387 of the Criminal Code Act 1913, cleaning up bird poo or bat guano without a license is a crime that could land you in jail for up to a year.
Although no one has been penalized for this in at least the last ten years, it’s advised to be careful if you plan on cleaning in Western Australia.
8. Watch for Bus Passengers
If you’re driving in New South Wales after it rains, be careful to avoid splashing mud near public bus stops.
Per Regulation 291-3, Road Rules 2014, splashing mud on public bus passengers is illegal, even if it’s by mistake. Given how recently this law was made (2014), police officers might choose to enforce it.
9. No False Notices
In Queensland, according to Section 21 of the Summary Offences Act 2005, posting a false job advertisement or an inaccurate announcement about a birth or death is a punishable offense.
While this might not seem unreasonable, the punishment is significant: a fine of over $1,000 and potentially six months in prison.
10. Resist the Pirates
In Victoria, it’s crucial not to engage with pirates. Per Section 70C of the Crimes Act 1958, doing business with pirates could lead to ten years in prison.
Furthermore, people on Australian ships must resist bringing any “seducing messages” from pirates on board, as doing so is considered an act of piracy itself and could result in twenty years in prison.
11. Be Careful When You Vacuum
Victoria has regulations regarding residential noise. The Environment Protection Regulations 2008 make it an offense to create unreasonable sounds with a vacuum cleaner after 10:00 pm or before 7:00 am on weekdays, and before 9:00 am on weekends.
“Unreasonable” means your neighbors can hear it, whether their doors and windows are open or closed. If you ignore the rule, neighbors can call the police, who can issue a 72-hour warning. Continuing to vacuum could lead to a fine of up to $18,655.
12. Stop Challenging People to Duels
In Western Australia, simply challenging someone to a duel could result in a hefty punishment under Section 72 of the Criminal Code Act 1913 (WA).
The fine is up to $6,000 or two years of imprisonment. The punishment for actually carrying out the duel is presumably larger.
13. You Can Keep Your Electrified Briefcase
While Western Australia’s Criminal Code Act of 1913 bans carrying most weapons, Section 68A carves out an exception for electrified briefcases.
So, if your briefcase emits electric shocks to deter would-be trespassers, you are allowed to carry it throughout Western Australia.
14. No More Potatoes
Western Australia takes potato purchases seriously. The Marketing of Potatoes Act 1946 makes it clear that one cannot possess more than 50 kilograms (about 110 pounds) of potatoes.
You can bypass this rule by purchasing potatoes from a retailer authorized by the Potato Corporation.
If you use an unauthorized source, you could be subject to a police search, a $2,000 fine, and a penalty requiring you to pay double the value of the potatoes you’re carrying.
15. Stop Stealing Pigeons
Stealing pigeons is a criminal offense in Western Australia, according to the state’s criminal code.
However, this law applies specifically to tamed birds living in a pigeon house, not wild birds you might find at a park.
Alicia Richards