From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Australia Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Wed, 20 Aug 1997 16:20:45 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1438 Path: world!bzs Message-ID: <970820162044_76702.1202_CHN53-1@CompuServe.COM> Precedence: bulk Sender: bzs@world.std.com (daemons) Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 123 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Australia ============================================================ Australia - Consular Information Sheet August 19, 1997 Country Description: Australia is a highly developed, stable democracy with a federal-state system. Tourist facilities are widely available. Entry Requirements: Information about entry requirements may be obtained from the Embassy of Australia at 1601 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036, tel. (202) 797-3000, Internet: http://www.aust.emb.nw.dc.us/ or from one of the Australian consulates in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, New York or Atlanta. Medical Facilities: Good medical care is available. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. U.S. medical insurance is usually not valid outside the United States. The Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide payment of medical services outside the United States. Supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including provision for medical evacuation, may prove useful. Useful information on medical emergencies abroad is provided in the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs' brochure "Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad," available via our home page and autofax service. For additional health information, the international travelers hotline of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may be reached at (404) 332-4559, via the CDC autofax service at (404) 332-4565, or via the CDC home page on the Internet: http://www.cdc.gov/. Information on Crime: Australia's crime rate is low. However, foreign visitors from the U.S. or elsewhere are targets for pick-pockets, purse snatchers and petty thieves. Automobile burglaries and theft of personal belongings also occur. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police, and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlet "A Safe Trip Abroad." It is available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C., 20402 or via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs. Criminal Penalties: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than for similar offenses in the United States. Persons violating the law, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Criminal penalties for possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect severe jail sentences and fines. Road Safety: Visitors are reminded that all traffic operates on the left side of the road, and that all vehicles use right-hand drive. Visitors should use caution crossing streets and when driving. Seat belts are mandatory. Speed limits and laws regarding driving while intoxicated are rigorously enforced. Roads and streets are frequently more narrow and less graded than U.S. highways. Outside the major metropolitan areas, most highways are two-lane roads with significant distances between destinations. Drivers are urged to exercise caution while passing or merging with adjacent traffic. When driving in rural areas, particularly in the Northern Territory where there are no speed limits, drivers should be cautious of free roaming animals and road trains (several semi-truck trailers hooked together). It is dangerous to pass road trains, and it is advisable to pull-over and allow on-coming road trains to pass to avoid being sideswiped. Aviation Oversight: As a result of an assessment conducted by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in November 1995, the FAA has found the government of Australia's civil aviation authority to be in compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of Australia's air carrier operations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation at 1-800-322-7873. Registration/U.S. Embassy/Consulates Locations: U.S. citizens living in or visiting Australia are encouraged to register at the U.S. Embassy or at one of the consulates. They may also obtain updated information on travel and security within the country at the U.S. Embassy or consulates or visit the U.S. Embassy in Canberra home page via the Internet at http://www.ozemail.com.au/~usaemb/ which is linked to new home pages under construction for the Consulates General in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. The U.S. Embassy in Canberra is located at Moonah Place, Canberra, A.C.T. 2600; the telephone number is (61)(6)270-5000; the fax number is (61)(6) 273-3191. The U.S. Consulate General in Sydney is located on level 59, MLC Centre, 19-29 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000; the telephone number is (61)(2) 9373-9200; the fax number is (61)(2) 9373-9184. The U.S. Consulate General in Melbourne is located at 553 St. Kilda Road, P.O. Box 6722, Melbourne VIC 3004; the telephone number is (61)(3) 9526-5900; the fax number is (61)(3) 9510-4646. The U.S. Consulate General in Perth is located on the 13th floor, 16 St. Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000; the telephone number is (61)(9) 231-9400; the fax number is (61(9) 231-9444. No. 79-130 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet issued on May 2, 1996 to update information on entry requirements, road safety, and U.S. Embassy and consulates' telephone numbers, fax numbers and home page on the Internet. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. 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