Language
Overview
Official language is English. Among the immigrants there are minorities who have retained their mother tongue; different languages are spoken by the Australian aborigines.
Public Holidays
01/01/2022 New Year
01/26/2022 Australia Day
04/15/2022 Good Friday
04/16/2022 holy saturday
04/18/2022 easter monday
04/25/2022 ANZAC Day
06/14/2022 Celebrations for the Queen’s birthday
12/25/2022 Christmas
12/26/2022 Christmas
Source: Top-mba-universities.com
The public holidays mentioned apply nationwide. Additional holidays are listed under each state.
Duty free shopping
Overview
The following items can be brought into Australia duty-free: An unopened packet of cigarettes containing a maximum of 25 cigarettes or an unopened 25g pack of other tobacco products (persons aged 18 and over); and an opened packet of cigarettes. 2.25 l alcoholic beverages (persons aged 18 and over); cosmetic products for personal use and personal clothing, except furs. Note: Travelers do not need a permit to bring tobacco products into Australia. E-cigarettes, liquid nicotine and vaporizing nicotine do not contain tobacco and therefore do not require an import permit. Gifts (cameras, watches, souvenirs etc. ) and personal effects up to a total value of A$900 can be imported duty-free for persons aged 18 and over (A$450 for persons under 18). Attention: Business travelers require an import permit for the import of some merchandise and sample parts, regardless of their value. Business travelers must declare personal items with a total value of A$1000 or more.
Prohibited Imports
Food, plants and parts of plants, animal products (eggs, feathers, skins, etc.), equipment needed in animal husbandry and other possible carriers of diseases and epidemics, vaccine serum, weapons, drugs and medication that causes addiction without a medical certificate in English. Drug offenses are severely punished. More information is available from Countryaah.com.
Prohibited Exports
Objects of cultural or historical significance, as well as many plant and animal species and their products. Further information is available from the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
Contact addresses
Australian Embassy
Mattiellistrasse 2
A-1040 Wien
Austria
+43 (0) 1 50 67 40.
http://www.austria.embassy.gov.au
http://www.austria.embassy.gov.au
Mon-Fri 09.00-16.00. Consular section: Mon-Fri 09.00-12.30 and 14.00-16.00.
Australian Embassy
Consulate General in Frankfurt/M.
(Also responsible for Switzerland.)
Wallstrasse 76-79
D-10179 Berlin
Germany
+49 (0) 30 88 00 88-0.
http://www.germany.embassy.gov.au
http://www.germany.embassy.gov.au
Mon-Thu 08.30-13.00 and 14.00-17.00, Fri 08.30-13.00 and 14.00-16.15.
Business
Business etiquette
Business travelers should appear formally dressed for the first meeting. Appointments must be arranged in advance. Negotiations are often conducted over a drink. The period from March to November is recommended for business trips. Business hours: Mon-Fri 09.00-17.30.
Business contacts
Inquiries can also be directed to the Chamber of Commerce in each Australian state.
Business contacts
Communication
Phone
Country code: 0061. According to Abbreviationfinder.org, there are still payphones throughout Australia that can be used with coins and/or Telstra calling cards. These are available from newsagents, kiosks, small supermarkets and drugstores.
Mobile phone
3G and 4G. Network operators include Optus, Telstra and Vodafone, among others. Good network coverage except for some isolated parts of the country. In the outback, the reception/transmission range is limited or non-existent (except around Alice Springs and at Ayers Rock). There are roaming contracts 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 SIM card in Australia and exchange it for the European SIM card.
Internet
Internet cafes are available in all major cities. Across Australia, most hotels, public libraries, precincts, airports, train stations, shopping malls and Student UNI Travel offices offer free Wi-Fi. In Australia there are well over half a million public Wi-Fi hotspots that can be used free of charge. ISPs include Telstra and iinet, among others.
Post office
Letters and postcards take four to seven days to Europe. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 09.00-17.00, some have a lunch break between 12.00-14.00. Post offices in major cities are also open on Sat from 9am to 1pm. Many post offices accept poste restante items. On the address, the state is usually abbreviated, followed by the postal code (e.g. Queensland becomes QLD, South Australia becomes SA, etc.). Stamps are available from post offices, petrol stations and many shops.
Radio
In Australia, some German-language radio programs are produced that can be received over the Internet.
