Nearly every country has its share of strange laws, many of which originated in specific historical periods when they seemed logical.
Australia is no exception, with numerous peculiar laws, including some surprisingly modern ones like a 2008 law about vacuuming or a 2014 rule concerning splashing mud.
Before visiting the Land Down Under, it might be wise to review some of these regulations to avoid potential fines for seemingly innocuous activities like flying a kite or cleaning bird guano.
These laws range from prohibiting certain items on public transport to unexpected rules about noise and even dueling.
1: Don’t Take a Fridge on the Train
Believe it or not, attempting to transport large appliances via passenger train is illegal in Queensland, Australia. In 2017, a man was fined $252 for trying to move his fridge on a train.
This isn’t an isolated incident, as other individuals have also unsuccessfully attempted to bring items like couches, lawnmowers, and even a front door onto trains.
The general rule is quite strict: if an item doesn’t fit in the luggage racks, you are not permitted to board with it. Australian authorities are reported to be very stringent about enforcing this regulation.
2: No Flying Kites in Victoria
While flying a kite might seem like a harmless pastime, in Victoria, it can actually be an offense under Section 4 of the Summary Offences Act 1966.
Specifically, if you fly a kite or play a game in a public place to the annoyance of any person, you are guilty of an offense.
This seemingly simple act could result in a fine of up to $826.10. Of course, flying a kite is permissible as long as nobody is bothered by it. So, hopefully, any neighbors in Australia aren’t easily annoyed by things flying in the air.
3: Don’t Sing Obscene Ballads
Victoria’s Summary Offences Act 1966 also contains a prohibition against singing obscene songs or ballads in public places.
This rule is part of a broader law that bans all obscene or threatening language in public. The exact definition of what constitutes “obscene or threatening” language is somewhat vague.
However, if found guilty of this offense, the consequences can be significant: you may face a fine of up to $1,169 or potentially spend two months in prison for a first offense.
4: No Extra-Large Fridges
South Australia has an interesting law, detailed in the Summary Offences Act 1955, which prohibits the sale of fridges exceeding a certain size. Specifically, it is illegal to sell refrigerators that hold 42.5 liters or more.
There are a couple of key exceptions to this rule, however. A larger refrigerator is deemed legal if all its doors can be opened from the inside.
Additionally, fridges that were built and brought into the country before 1962 are also exempt from this prohibition.
5: No Ringing Doorbells for Fun
If you ever participated in the childhood game known as “Ding Dong Ditch,” you might be surprised to learn that this activity is explicitly prohibited in South Australia.
The Summary Offences Act 1953 includes a provision specifically 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”.
Engaging in an innocent game like Ding Dong Ditch without a reasonable excuse could potentially result in a $250 fine.
6: Don’t Disrupt Weddings or Funerals
While disrupting a wedding, funeral, or church service is considered rude behavior globally, in South Australia, it is specifically recognized as a crime.
The Summary Offences Act 1953 contains another ordinance that makes the act of disrupting religious services, including weddings and funerals, illegal.
If someone is found to have disrupted such an event, they could potentially face a substantial penalty. Violators of this law might be subject to a hefty fine of up to $10,000.
7: Leave The Bird Poo, Please
Surprisingly, in Western Australia, cleaning up bird droppings or bat guano can be a criminal offense if you don’t possess the necessary license.
According to Section 387 of the Criminal Code Act 1913, doing so could potentially lead to imprisonment for up to a year.
It’s worth noting, however, no one has actually been penalized for this specific act in at least the past decade.
Nevertheless, if you are considering doing some cleaning that involves removing bird or bat droppings in Western Australia, it’s advised to be cautious.
8: Watch for Bus Passengers
Drivers in New South Wales need to be particularly mindful when driving after it rains, especially around public bus stops.
According to Regulation 291-3 of the Road Rules 2014, it is actually illegal to splash mud on public bus passengers, even if the act was unintentional.
This law was introduced relatively recently, in 2014, which means police officers might be inclined to enforce it.
So, to avoid potential issues, drivers should steer clear of mud puddles near bus stops when people are present.
9: No False Notices
While it might seem like common sense, Queensland has a law under Section 21 of the Summary Offences Act 2005 that makes posting false job advertisements or inaccurate announcements about births or deaths a punishable offense.
While this might not initially sound like a “weird” law, the potential penalties attached make it quite stringent.
If found guilty of this offense, the consequences can include a fine of over $1,000 and potentially even six months in prison.
10: Resist the Pirates
In Victoria, engaging with pirates is a serious offense with significant legal repercussions. According to Section 70C of the Crimes Act 1958, anyone caught doing business with pirates could face up to ten years in prison.
The act also mandates that individuals on Australian ships must actively resist bringing any “seducing messages” from pirates on board.
Failure to resist or bringing such messages is considered an act of piracy itself and could result in a sentence of twenty years in prison.
11: Be Careful When You Vacuum
Victoria has specific regulations regarding residential noise, particularly concerning vacuum cleaners.
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, or before 9:00 am on weekends.
“Unreasonable” noise in this context means it can be heard by your neighbors regardless of whether their doors and windows are open or closed.
If you violate this rule, neighbors can contact the police, who may issue a 72-hour warning, but continued violation could lead to a massive fine of up to $18,655.
12: Stop Challenging People to Duels
While the idea of a duel might seem like something from a historical drama, challenging someone to one is actually illegal in Western Australia.
Section 72 of the Criminal Code Act 1913 (WA) outlines penalties simply for challenging someone to a duel.
This act alone could result in a fine of up to $6,000 or potential imprisonment for two years. The punishment would presumably be even more severe if the duel were actually carried out.
13: You Can Keep Your Electrified Briefcase
Western Australia’s Criminal Code Act of 1913 generally prohibits citizens from carrying most types of weapons.
However, Section 68A of the Act carves out a specific and rather unusual exception. This exception allows individuals to legally carry electrified briefcases.
Therefore, if you own a briefcase designed to emit electric shocks, perhaps to deter trespassers or attackers, you are permitted to carry it freely throughout Western Australia without violating the law.
14: No More Potatoes
Western Australia has a unique and strict law concerning the possession of potatoes. The Marketing of Potatoes Act 1946 clearly states that an individual cannot possess more than 50 kilograms (which is approximately 110 pounds) of potatoes at any given time.
There is one way to bypass this specific weight limit: purchasing the potatoes from a retailer who is officially authorized by the Potato Corporation.
If you obtain potatoes from an unauthorized source and exceed the limit, you could face consequences including a police search, a $2,000 fine, and a penalty requiring you to pay double the value of the potatoes you are carrying.
15: Stop Stealing Pigeons
Stealing pigeons is considered a criminal offense in Western Australia, according to the state’s criminal code.
While this might initially sound strange, especially when considering wild birds, the law specifically applies only to tamed birds.
Furthermore, the law is focused on tamed pigeons that are kept in a pigeon house. Therefore, if you encounter a wild pigeon in a park and decide to take it home, that action would not fall under this particular law.
Alicia Richards