Australia Economy and Shopping
ECONOMY
Business etiquette
Correct clothing for appointments in Sydney and Melbourne. Brisbane businesspeople often wear shirts, ties, and shorts; Business travelers should appear formally dressed for the first meeting. Appointments must be made in advance. Negotiations are often conducted over a drink in Australia, a country located in Oceania listed on areacodesexplorer.. The period from March to November is recommended for business trips. Business hours: Mon-Fri 9 am-5.30pm.
Economy
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI)
Commerce House, Level 3, 24 Brisbane Avenue, Barton, ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 62 73 23 11.
Internet: www.acci.asn.au
German-Australian Chamber of Commerce
Level 10, 39 -41 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 82 96 04 00.
Internet: www.germany.org.au
Inquiries can also be directed to the chambers of commerce in the individual Australian states.
COMMUNICATION
Phone
International direct dialing.
Cellphone
GSM 900, 1800 and 3G. Network operators include Vodafone (Internet: www.vodafone.com.au), Optus (Internet: www.optus.net.au), Telstra (Internet: www.telstra.com) and Hutchison 3G Australia Pty Ltd. The mobile phone networks are limited to all larger cities, in the more isolated parts of the country and in the outback the reception / transmission range is limited or not available (except around Alice Springs and Ayers Rock). US cell phones are not compatible. Roaming contracts exist with mobile phone companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, among others. However, roaming is by far the most expensive option. It is cheaper to buy a prepaid card in Australia and exchange it for the European SIM card.
Internet
Internet cafes are available in all major cities. Most of the hotels, public libraries and Student UNI Travel offices also offer Internet / email facilities. Internet service providers include Telstra Bigpond (www.bigpond.com), Hunterlink (www.hunterlink.net.au) and Tassienet in Tasmania (Internet: www.tassie.net.au).
Information on Australian internet cafes can be found on the Cybercafés website (Internet: www.cybercafe.com). Numerous hotspots in Melbourne and the greater Melbourne area provide free WiFi access to the Internet in many public places.
Post Office
Letters and postcards need about 5 days by airmail and about 2 months by ship to Europe. Opening times: Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., some have a lunch break between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Some post offices are also open on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Many post offices accept poste restante items. On the address, the state is usually indicated with an abbreviation, followed by the postcode (e.g. Queensland becomes QLD, South Australia becomes SA, etc.). Postage stamps are available at post offices, gas stations, and many stores.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
DUTY-FREE SHOPPING
Overview
The following items can be imported into Australia duty-free:
50 cigarettes or 50 g cigars or tobacco products (people over 18 years of age);
2.25 l alcoholic beverages (people over 18 years);
Cosmetic products for personal use and personal clothing, excluding furs.
Gifts (cameras, watches, souvenirs, etc.) and personal items up to a total value of A $ 900 can be imported duty-free for people aged 18 and over (A $ 450 for people under 18 years of age).
Prohibited imports
Food, plants and parts of plants, animal products (eggs, feathers, furs, etc.), equipment required in animal husbandry and other possible carriers of diseases and epidemics, vaccine serum, weapons, drugs and drugs that cause addiction without a medical certificate in English. Drug offenses are severely punished.
Prohibited exports
Objects of cultural or historical importance as well as many plants and animal species and their products.
SHOP
Overview
Local wine, wool and sheepskins, clothing, opals, modern sculptures, paintings, bark paintings and boomerangs. Shop opening times: Mon-Fri 9 a.m.-5.30 p.m. and Sat 9 a.m.-5 p.m. In South Australia and Western Australia it is open all day on Saturdays. In Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart and Darwin, shops are open until 9:00 pm on Fridays; in Sydney, Canberra and Perth on Thursdays. Small grocery stores, restaurants and snack bars in the larger cities are open until late at night. For more information: www.consumer.act.gov.au
