Consular News 3 Jan 2006
Updated General Advice to Australian Traveller
Dear Australians in south China
Firstly let me wish you a ‘Happy New Year’ and best wishes to you and your family for the year 2006. I hope that you have had enjoyable and safe celebrations to bring in the new calendar year.
The ‘General Travel Advice for Australian Travellers’ has been reviewed and was reissued on 31
December 2005. The Advice provides general information on Safety and Security, Local Laws, Entry and Exit Requirements, Health Issues, and Where to Get Help.
Please find below the text of the General Travel Advice for Australian Travellers. It can also be viewed online at:
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/General
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GENERAL ADVICE TO AUSTRALIAN TRAVELLERS
This Advice was issued on Saturday, 31 December 2005, 20:42:25, EST.
This advice has been reviewed and reissued.
SUMMARY
. The terrorist attacks outside the Australian Embassy in Jakarta on 9 September 2004 and in Bali on 1 October 2005 and 12 October 2002 underscore the ongoing threat to Australians across the world posed by international terrorism.
. The terrorist attacks against the public transport systems in the United Kingdom in July 2005 and Spain in March 2004 further highlight the world wide risk of terrorist attack against Westerners and Western interests. Over the past year, terrorist bombings have also targeted and killed foreigners in Jordan, Egypt and Qatar.
. We continue to receive reports that terrorists are planning attacks. Terrorist operations could range from kidnappings, hijackings, bombings, suicide operations or other acts of violence, such as drive-by shooting. Terrorists may attack official or civilian targets depending on their particular objectives at the time.
. Violent and petty crime occurs in many countries. You should familiarise yourself with the types of crime that may occur and locations where you may be particularly at risk.
. When you are overseas, local laws apply to you and penalties, particularly for drug-related offences, can be severe and can include the death penalty.
. Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas:
- organise comprehensive travel insurance (http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/travel_insurance.html)
and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy
- register (https://www.orao.dfat.gov.au) your travel and contact details, so we can contact you in an emergency
15/F, Main Building, Guangdong International Hotel, 339 Huanshi Dong Lu, Guangzhou 510098, PRC
Telephone: 86 20 8335 5911 Facsimile: 86 20 8335 0718
Website: www.china.embassy.gov.au/guangzhou
- subscribe (http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Change_Notification) to destination specific advice to receive free email updates each time it's reissued.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
Terrorism
Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.
The terrorist attacks against the Australian Embassy in Jakarta on 9 September 2004 and in Bali on 1 October 2005 and 12 October 2002 underscore the ongoing threat posed by terrorists to Australians overseas. Australians are directly threatened by terrorism. Australia and Australians have been specifically named by international terrorist groups, including Osama bin Laden and his Al-Qa'ida network and Jemaah Islamiyah, as a legitimate target of attack.
The terrorist attacks against the public transport systems in the United Kingdom in July 2005 and Spain in March 2004 further highlight the world wide risk of terrorist attack against Westerners and Western interests. Over the last year, terrorist bombings have also targeted and killed foreigners in Jordan, Egypt and Qatar.
We continue to receive reports that terrorists are planning attacks including against places frequented by foreigners. In many cases the purpose of these attacks is to create panic, hinder normal activities, including business activities and to attempt to influence government policy. Terrorists do not discriminate between official and civilian targets.
Terrorist operations could range from kidnappings, hijackings, bombings, suicide operations or other acts of violence, such as drive-by shootings. Terrorist groups have also demonstrated a capacity to pursue other types of operations against Western interests including attacks against maritime targets, such as the attack on a crude oil carrier off the coast of Yemen in 2002. The sinking of a large passenger ferry in Manila Harbour in 2004 has been attributed to a Philippines terrorist group. See our travel advice on shipping and ports (http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw- cgi/view/Advice/shipping_and_ports) for more information. The International Maritime Bureau issues weekly piracy reports on its website (http://www.icc-ccs.org/prc/piracyreport.php).
In view of the ongoing risk of terrorist attacks on commercial aircraft and aviation infrastructure, many airports across the world remain on heightened alert and have implemented enhanced security measures. The destruction of two Russian domestic airliners by suicide bombers in August 2004 underscores continuing concerns about the possibility of attacks utilising civilian aeroplanes. More stringent security and other checking procedures are increasingly being put in place at airports worldwide.
Security conditions can change rapidly in different regions and countries and you should monitor carefully our destination-specific travel advice (http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/).
Civil Unrest/Political Tension
In some countries demonstrations and large public gatherings have the potential to turn violent. In these situations, monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
Crime
Violent and petty crime occurs in many countries. You should put measures in place to protect your personal security and familiarise yourself with the types of crime that occur and locations where you may be particularly at risk.
Natural Disasters
Information on natural disasters can be obtained from the Humanitarian Early Warning Service
(http://www.hewsweb.org/storms/). If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.
Money and Valuables
Before you go, organise a variety of ways of accessing your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques and cash. Check with your bank whether your ATM card will work overseas.
Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport (http://www.passports.gov.au/Web/index.aspx) is lost or stolen overseas, report it online (http://www.passports.gov.au/Web/renewal/lost_stolen.aspx) or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate
(http://www.dfat.gov.au/missions/index.html) as soon as possible.
Since 1 July 2005, Australians have been required to pay an additional fee to have their passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.
For Parents
If you are planning on placing your children in schools or child care facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or child care facilities in Australia.
Ideas on how to select child care providers are available from the smartraveller Children’s Issues page (http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/children/), Childwise (http://www.childwise.net/our-vision.php) and the National Childcare Accreditation Council (http://www.ncac.gov.au/).
LOCAL LAWS
When you are overseas, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter
(http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/consular_charter/index.html).
Penalties for drug offences in some countries, including for small amounts of 'soft drugs', may include the death penalty or lengthy imprisonment.
In most countries, taking photographs of military installations and other sites deemed to be sensitive to domestic security, such as police stations, is prohibited and may result in arrest or detention.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.
Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.
Local customs
There are strong codes of dress and behaviour in some destinations and you should take care not to offend.
Information for Dual Nationals
Some countries do not recognise dual nationality. This may limit the ability of the Australian Government to provide consular assistance to dual nationals who are arrested or detained. Australians should contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate (http://www.info.dfat.gov.au/protocol) of their destination for information on whether dual nationality is recognised.
Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure (http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/tips/dualnat.html)
provides further information for dual nationals.
ENTRY AND EXIT REQUIREMENTS
Visa conditions change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of your destination
(http://www.info.dfat.gov.au/protocol) for the most up to date information.
HEALTH ISSUES
Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about immunisations and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) (http://www.who.int/ith/en/) provides information for travellers and our ‘Travelling Well’ brochure
(http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/tips/travelwell.html) also provides useful tips for staying healthy while travelling overseas. If you are travelling to high-risk areas you should look at our Avian Influenza
(http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/TravelBulletins/Health_:_Avian_Influenza) travel bulletin.
We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance
(http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/travel_insurance.html) that will cover any overseas medical costs, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel.
WHERE TO GET HELP
If you are travelling overseas, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register on-line
(https://www.orao.dfat.gov.au/orao/weborao.nsf/homepage?Openpage) or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate (http://www.dfat.gov.au/missions/index.html). The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.
You can obtain consular assistance by telephoning the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 1 300 555 135 (if calling from within Australia) or (61 2) 6261 3305 (if calling from overseas).
While every care has been taken in preparing this travel information for travellers, neither the Australian Government nor its agents or employees including any member of Australia's consular staff abroad, can accept liability for injury, loss or damage arising in respect of any statement contained therein.
Copyright (http://www.dfat.gov.au/copyright.html)
Disclaimer (http://www.dfat.gov.au/disclaim.html)
Privacy (http://www.dfat.gov.au/privacy.html)
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Yours sincerely
Kelli-Ann Kerin
Consul