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LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS
FOR
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
 PURCHASING A MOBILE
PHONE AND A MOBILE
PHONE PLAN
PURCHASING A MOBILE PHONE AND
MOBILE PHONE PLAN
Prepaid Phones
Prepaid phones allow students to buy a handset without signing a contract or needing a
credit rating. To make calls requires the purchasing of phone cards in advance so they will
not receive phone bills or build up credit debts. When students run out of credit on their
phone they need to purchase a recharge to be able to use the phone again. Students can
get a prepaid phone at any age provided they have the money to pay for it.
PURCHASING A MOBILE PHONE AND
MOBILE PHONE PLAN
Mobile Phone Contract or Payment Plans
If you decide to purchase a mobile phone on a payment plan you will need to sign a
contract which means you have legal obligations to meet. You are not just buying a mobile
phone, you are also buying a connection to a service provider and some form of credit (the
payment plan or fixed term contract). You will need to be 18 to sign a mobile phone
contract.
Often companies will require an adult to guarantee the contract, which means that if the
student fails to pay their bill the adult will then be responsible for the bill. Technically
the contract can be transferred into the student’s name once they turn 18 but it may not
happen automatically as the company may require a credit check, more than one from of
ID and a credit card.
PURCHASING A MOBILE PHONE AND
MOBILE PHONE PLAN
What things should I consider before deciding on a phone?
If you are thinking about getting a mobile phone, updating a current phone or changing
plans do your homework first.
Always remember that there is no such thing as a free phone!
You need to ask yourself:
 Can I afford a mobile?
 Do I understand what the contract says?
 Is this phone a good buy?
Before you decide:
You should seriously think about what you will use the mobile phone for and whether you
will be able to pay the bills.
Work out how much money you have left after paying all your other expenses. If you are
considering a mobile phone contract you should also think about whether your financial
situation is likely to change between now and the time your contract expires.
PURCHASING A MOBILE PHONE AND
MOBILE PHONE PLAN
Shop around
Think about what you'll use your phone for, how often, and what time of the day you will use it most.
Consider asking questions like:
 Do I have to pay for the phone and connection?
 What are the call charges to different places at different times? When is 'peak' and 'off-peak'?
 Is there a minimum charge regardless of how long your call lasts?
 How is your call billed: per second, per 30 seconds or per minute?
 Is it cheaper to call other phones connected to the same network?
 How much are extra features like voicemail and SMS?
 Do you pay for someone to leave a message and do you have to pay to retrieve messages?
 What's the minimum monthly payment? Are there any free calls?
 What are the ongoing commitments, is there a cancellation fee?
 If you buy a second-hand phone is the sim card unlocked? Some carriers charge to unlock sim
cards.
PURCHASING A MOBILE PHONE AND
MOBILE PHONE PLAN
Use your phone responsibly
Be aware of how much calls cost including how many you make, how long
you stay on the phone and the time of day that you make calls. If there
is a competition that requires you to call or SMS or if you are registering
votes for Australian Idol or Big Brother find out how much each call is
going to cost you.
If you let a friend use your phone you will be still charged for calls that
they make. If your phone is lost or stolen you may also have to continue
to make minimum payments- check your contract. It is illegal to sell
your phone while it is still under a service contract.
PURCHASING A MOBILE PHONE AND
MOBILE PHONE PLAN
What if I can't pay or I want to break the contract?
If you find that you have signed up to a mobile phone contract or
payment plan that is beyond your budget and you get behind in
payments contact the phone company to see if you can negotiate an
arrangement to pay that you are able to manage.
If you don't pay your phone bill the phone company can take you to
court. This may result in a judgment against you which can lead to a
'bad credit rating'. In fact you can get a 'bad credit rating' when you
default on payments and there is no judgment. This means it will be
difficult for you to get credit (a loan) and in some cases you may not
be able to get credit at all.
 MAIL AND PARCELS
MAIL AND PARCELS
Quarantine and international mail
The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) checks goods arriving at
international mail centres, airports and seaports. AQIS screens all of the 180 million items
of international mail sent to Australia each year. Quarantine officers, x-ray machines and
detector dogs screen mail to find items of quarantine risk. AQIS intercepts approximately
60,000 high risk items in international mail each year.
Tips for sending international mail to Australia
 Mail sent to Australia should not include prohibited food, plant material or animal
products.
 The declaration label must be filled out clearly and correctly – include ALL contents and
packaging on the declaration.
 Do not pack items in egg cartons, wooden boxes, or cardboard boxes that have been used to
hold fruit, vegetables and meat/smallgoods. This packaging is a quarantine risk and is
prohibited.
 Do not use straw and dried plant material as these are prohibited. Use newspaper or foam
to wrap fragile goods.
 Thoroughly clean all footwear, sporting and camping equipment to remove any traces of soil
and seeds.
 Inform friends and relatives overseas of Australia’s quarantine laws and ask them not to send
prohibited food, plant material and animal products.
 Many items which are removed from international mail are commercially available in
Australia. They have been imported under strict quarantine import conditions.
Breaches of quarantine laws can lead to fines of up to $60,000 and 10 years imprisonment.
MAIL AND PARCELS
WHAT HAPPENS TO QUARANTINE ITEMS?
When items are withheld for quarantine reasons the person receiving the
item is given a range of options depending on the quarantine risk:
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treating the item to make it safe (for example fumigation, irradiation);
holding the item until an import permit can be presented;
re-exporting the item or returning it to the sender; or
destroying the item.
These services and treatments (except for destroying the item) are
subject to fees which are payable by the person who receives the
package. In some instances, treatment may damage goods. AQIS makes
every effort to minimise the risk of damage, but does not accept liability
for damage that may occur as a result of a treatment.
AQIS will hold items for 30 days. If AQIS is not contacted within this time
the goods will be destroyed.
MAIL AND PARCELS
Internet and mail order purchases
Quarantine laws also apply to goods ordered on the internet or
through mail order, such as:
 flower, tree and vegetable seeds and bulbs;
 food products;
 therapeutics and other medicinal products for both humans and
animals; and
 tea with fruit pieces.
Before placing your internet or mail order, remember to check
Australia’s quarantine import conditions.
MAIL AND PARCELS
International cultural and seasonal events and Quarantine
It is common for international mail to contain items for
celebration of cultural or seasonal events. Unfortunately many of
these items must be withheld for quarantine reasons. For
example, mooncakes containing egg yolk or meat.
Please think of other items to mail to Australia to celebrate these
and other cultural and seasonal events. Tell your friends and
relatives overseas about Australia’s quarantine laws and ask them
not to send prohibited food, plant material and animal products.
 OPENING AN AUSTRALIAN
BANK ACCOUNT
OPENING AN AUSTRALIAN BANK
ACCOUNT
You should open a bank account as soon as possible. If you have been in
Australia for less than six weeks, your passport will be enough
identification to open a bank account. If you have been in Australia for
longer than six weeks, you will need some further identification. The
bank, building society or credit union will advise you about necessary
identification.
A bank account is created on the spot. You will receive an ATM card and
other details a few days later by mail. While you are waiting for your
card, you can access your account by going into the bank.
You should compare interest rates, charges on cheque books, etc. Most
students open an account that has access to an automated teller machine
(ATM) via a card. Cash is then accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a
week. Although most banks charge very similar fees on everyday bank
accounts, some differences exist with Term Deposit accounts for larger
balances.
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OPENING AN AUSTRALIAN BANK
ACCOUNT
Useful Websites that will provide information about opening an
Australian Bank Account
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www.bankers.asn.au
www.commbank.com.au
www.anz.com.au
www.westpac.com.au
www.legalaid.qld.gov.au
www.australianexplorer.com/australian_banking.htm
www.bugaustralia.com/essentials/money.html
www.nab.com.au
www.stgeorge.com.au
You may be able to open a bank account online before you arrive in Australia.
Visit the website of your preferred bank for more details
OPENING AN AUSTRALIAN BANK
ACCOUNT
Most supermarkets and shops/department stores have facilities to
purchase goods with your ATM card, known as Electric Funds Transfer
at Point of Sale (EFTPOS).
You can also withdraw money at an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM).
ATM’s located in most shopping centre’s and around the city.
If you need to go into the bank for any reason normal banking hours are
 Monday to Thursday from 9.00 am until 4.00 pm
 Friday from 9.00 am until 5.00 pm
 Most banks are closed on Saturdays however some do open for a couple of hours in
the morning
It will not be necessary to enter a bank branch for your everyday banking. Almost all your
withdrawals and deposits can be done through the ATM, over the telephone or via the
Internet.
MONEY MATTERS
MONEY MATTERS
Currency
Australian currency is decimal with the dollar ($) as the basic unit - 100
cents equals 1 dollar .
Notes come in $100, $50, $20, $10 and $5 denominations. Each note is a
different colour and has a different design.
Coins are minted in $2, $1, 50c, 20c, 10c and 5c denominations, although
individual item prices are still quoted in 1c, 2c, 3c, 6c, 7c, 8c, and 9c.
The total of purchases is then rounded off to the nearest 5c.
5c
10c
20c
$1
$2
MONEY MATTERS
Exchange of currencies
You can change your foreign currency into Australian Dollars at the
airport, any of the major banks, or Travelex Foreign Exchange.
Transferring money to Australia
Money can be transferred to an Australian bank account by bank draft,
or international money transfer. To transfer money, you need to know
and include the bank name, branch name, account number and BSB
number of the account you wish to deposit into.
Bank drafts can take 6-8 weeks to process, and there may be fees
involved.
MONEY MATTERS
Changing money on arrival
There are money changers (Bureau Exchange) located at international
airports, but you may get a less favourable rate than the exchange
rate in your home country.
How much to bring with you
On arrival in Australia, you will need to have some Australian currency
in case you need to make telephone calls or small purchases. It is
recommended that you arrive with approximately $300-500 in cash,
especially if you arrive over the weekend, when banks are closed.
You should avoid carrying large amounts of money. It is recommended
that the rest of your money is in bank drafts, travellers cheques,
credit card, or alternatively you can arrange to transfer funds
electronically once you have set up an Australian Bank Account.
MONEY MATTERS
Bringing money into Australia
When travelling to Australia, please be aware that if you
are carrying a total of AUS$10,000 or more in cash of any
currency, you MUST declare the money on your Incoming
Passenger Card and when questioned by Australian
Customs Officials upon arrival. A failure to declare this
money may result in the money being taken and you being
arrested and prosecuted.
It is not an offence to bring this money into Australia.
It is an offence not declare the money.
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ENJOY AUSTRALIA