Banks and currency exchange.

The banks work from Monday till Thursday from 9.30 till 16:00 (or 17:00 on Fridays). Saturday and Sunday are weekends (in some states the banks work on Saturday mornings).

It’s better to exchange currency in banks or their branches in the airport, in the exchange points “Singapore Money Exchange”, “Tomas Cook” and “American Express”. The course in hotel exchange points is less advantageous.

All main international credit cards and tourist cotter pins are accepted (with “Visa” card you can take no more than 500 $ at one bout, with “Visa Premiere” – no more than 2500 $). In small private shops, especially in the provinces, paying by the plastic card is not possible. Paying by the traveler’s cheque is not beneficial.

Exchange course:

Australian dollar (AUD) / Rubble (RUB)

100 RUB = 4.41 AUD

1 AUD = 22.66 RUB   

Australian dollar (AUD) / American dollar (USD)

1 USD = 1.05 AUD

10 AUD = 9.53 USD

Australian dollar (AUD) / Euro (EUR)

1 EUR = 1.62 AUD

10 AUD = 6.17 EUR.

Since 1953 Elizabeth II became the ruler of Australia. The Queen asserts a certain governor who has plenary powers to interfere in case of Constitutional crisis (similar to Australian constitutional crisis in 1975), but in ordinary time he has exceptionally representative powers.

There are three branches of authority in Australia:

a)      Legislative: The Parliament of Australia

b)      Executive: Federal Executive Council

c)      Judicial: High Court of Australia

Republicanism.

This country has the most powerful positions of republicans of all the Kingdoms of Concord. In February, 1998, a Constitutional convent was run in Canberra, most of which delegates voted for Australia being as a republic. There was also a referendum held in 1999, if Australians wished to make their country a republic one. 45,13 % (only in Canberra the quantity of republicans became more than a half, in the other territories only 39-48 % voted for it) wished to live in a republic, and in 2005 46% people voted for republic. The other 34% think, that the ruler of the country must be a British monarch. By the way, 52% of Australians don’t want the Welsh prince Charles to be the next king, which is expected to be him by 29% of population.

Many political analysts think, that Elizabeth II is the last British monarch, who is ruling the Australian Union.

In March 2007 the premiere minister John Howard doubted, that Australia will become a republic, while the authority belongs to Elizabeth II. John thinks about himself as a monarchist.

The date of the next referendum is not known exactly. As all the people think, Australia will become a republic in the next two decades.

Parliament.

Australia has a bicameral federal parliament, which consists of Senate (the top chamber) with 76 senators and House of Representatives (lower chamber). The Queen of England is also a member of Parliament, but she is represented by general-governor.

Main parties.

The main parties in Australia are Australian Labor Party, Liberal Party of Australia and National Party of Australia.

There are many points of access to Wi-Fi in Australia. Some of them are free. “Beeline” and “Megaphone” has GRRS service. You can find various internet-cafes in big cities. Some hotels also provide access to worldwide web to their guests.

Telephone connection.

It is brilliantly well-developed. A phone call to another country can be made from any telephone box which are placed nearly on every corner of the streets. Telephone boxes work by coins and by telephone cards “Telstra” (they are sold in gazette agencies and shops, marked with “Telstra” logotype).

To phone from abroad to an ordinary telephone in Australia, just first press 8 – honk – 10 – 61 – the city code (without zero before him!) – a telephone number of a person who is being called. While calling to a mobile phone, the city code is not dialed, but the number consists of nine numbers.

The most cost-effective and fast-developing industries are: mining, chemical, chemical, building, telecommunication systems, programming, production of medications, some kinds of services. By the law, anyone who wants to run his own business, can do it. There are various forms of business: from individual owning of business to other different forms of running it. It means, that you can create your own company or buy the one, which is already working, be the one owner and boss of the company or be a joint owner. The sum of your start-up capital may be 10 000 dollars and more. The question is that it can accumulate in Australia gradually. Your income depends on the success of your projects. The more income – the more risk to lose the firm.

The reasons of failures in business:

1)      Not knowing English at a good level

2)      Ignorance of the law

3)      Absence of necessary business connections

Bank system.

The banks in Australia are conservative and reliable. Because of the competition for clients, there are different services there. If you have a good credit history, you can take big credits under little percents.

If you want to open your own account in a bank, first you need to have your personal tax number. The statement on a receipt of it can be got in any post office.

You can pay for services, commodities etc. in different ways:

1)      with cash

2)      according to EFTPOS system

3)      credit card

4)      shopping credit card

5)      by installments or on a rental

Tax system.

The taxes are paid from all profits, regardless of the country, where they were earned. If the tax of any sum was paid abroad, the person will get some discounts. At the end of a financial year (June 30) every tax-payer must fill in the tax declaration, where he specifies the size of his own profits (salary).

The form of a tax declaration can be got in any post office of Australia. Although the taxes are high, all people pay them honestly. The person cannot be put in prison for the non-payment of taxes. He will just be fined (it’s the worst way…).

The tax inspection  is honest too, and it returns your money to you if superfluous sum was taken from your profits.