NEW FOREIGN LANGUAGE BROCHURES HELP AT THE BORDER
14 December 2009
Information for non-English speaking travellers has become much easier to access with the release of translated versions of the Guide for Travellers – Know Before You Go brochure by Customs and Border Protection. These versions make it possible for travellers to learn, in their own language, just what can and can’t be brought into Australia.
The brochure is now available in fourteen foreign languages.
Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O’Connor, said the translated Know Before You Go brochures make it possible for Customs and Border Protection to reach and educate a wider audience.
"Through these multilingual versions of the brochure, we can bridge the language and cultural gaps and make sure as many travellers as possible are aware of requirements and restrictions at the border," Mr O’Connor said.
Customs and Border Protection officers play an important role in protecting Australia’s borders from the entry of illegal and harmful goods and unauthorised people. They:
- check passports as you arrive and depart Australia;
- check arriving and departing travellers’ documents;
- question and search arriving travellers and their baggage for prohibited or restricted goods;
- search aircraft for prohibited or restricted goods;
- seize prohibited or restricted goods;
- patrol the tarmac and baggage handling areas to detect and deter criminal activity;
- use Labrador detector dogs to search people and baggage for drugs and other prohibited or restricted goods; and
- collect duty and tax on imported goods.
"More than six million Australian resident departures were recorded in 2008-09, therefore it is vital we ensure that as many potential international travellers as possible are aware of Australia’s border controls and requirements," Mr O’Connor said.
The translated versions of Know Before You Go were developed in response to the Commonwealth Ombudsman Report – Complaint Handling in Australian airports, which identified Australia’s non- English speaking communities as a priority target group for information on passenger rights and responsibilities.
The selection of the 14 foreign languages is consistent with other key passenger publications including the Tourist Refund Scheme brochure and the incoming and outgoing passenger cards.
Know Before You Go provides information on topics such as the Tourist Refund Scheme, prohibited and restricted goods, duty-free concessions and general requirements for departing and arriving in Australia by air and sea.
If caught carrying undeclared, prohibited or restricted goods, travellers could be fined or prosecuted.
"International travellers need to be aware that while some goods may be legal in overseas countries, they are often restricted or prohibited in Australia," Mr O’Connor said.
Items commonly seized by Customs and Border Protection from travellers include high intensity laser pointers, BB guns, certain types of knives and weapons including stun guns. These items require a permit to be brought into Australia.
Certain counterfeit goods and offensive types of pornography are prohibited.
"If you are unsure about an item you are carrying you should declare it on your Incoming Passenger Card," Mr O’Connor said.
The multilingual versions of Know Before You Go include Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese.
These versions of the brochure are available on the Customs and Border Protection website.
Goods that are restricted and may be seized by Customs and Border Protection include:
- wildlife souvenirs and products;
- videos, DVDs, CDs or books with objectionable content;
- performance and image enhancing drugs;
- high intensity laser pointers; and
- weapons.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Images of seized items are available in the media image gallery at www.customs.gov.au.
Contact:
Senior Policy and Media Adviser, Brian Humphreys 0438 595 567
or Customs and Border Protection media (02) 6275 6793
