Australian Government Cracks Down on Bizarre Requests from Travellers

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Australian Government Cracks Down on Bizarre Requests from Travellers
Hua Hin Today


Australian Government Cracks Down on Bizarre Requests from Travellers

BANGKOK: -- Consular officials in Bangkok are used to helping Australians in compromising situations, but even they were shocked when a man asked taxpayers to foot the bill for a prostitute. The request is just one example of bizarre requests the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are cracking down on.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has launched a new strategy for consular officials to deal with the problem, warning Australian travellers to stop expecting the government to bail them out if they get in trouble.

People who make repeat requests for unreasonable assistance will be turned down. Some of the more outrageous requests made of consular officials include one person who asked staff to take care of a pet parrot and feed a woman’s dogs while she was overseas. The Bangkok mission deals with the most requests for assistance, followed by Bali, Manila, Los Angeles and Dubai.

Top Ten Weird Requests:
1) A traveller who was destitute in Europe refused to return to Australia without their pet bird, which could not be returned for quarantine reasons
2) A mother who wanted the embassy in Bangkok to book accommodation and a return ticket to Australia for her son, then provide an embassy driver to take him to the airport
3) A request from an Australian traveller to feed her dogs while she was away
4) “I’m attending a conference overseas with a large group of Australians but I have heard it is a dangerous city. Can the High Commission arrange for a risk assessment and some armoured cars? We only need them for a week.”
5) A traveller who asked whether the sand in Egypt would affect her asthma
6) “Why won’t the Australian embassy come and pack my bags for me? I’m an 80 year old architect travelling by myself and too old to pack my own bags”
7) “Can the embassy obtain prescription medicine from Australia and send it to me so I can continue my holiday?”
8) Requests for embassies to store luggage, hold mail, provide banking facilities or arrange tours for Australian travellers
9) A caller wanted to know the average salary for an expat to expect in Thailand
10) “Can the embassy tell the local police that I have an excellent driving record in Australia and should not have to pay those outstanding speeding fines?” * List provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Source: http://www.huahintoday.com/world-news/australian-government-cracks-bizarre-requests-travellers/

-- Hua Hin Today 2014-12-30

[Dannyboy666]

Typical Ozzy Behaviour ...555555555

[khwaibah]

So whats wrong with a government picking up the tab of a hooker?

[siampolee]

khwaibah post # 3.

So whats wrong with a government picking up the tab of a hooker?

Indeed the electorate has to pick up the bill(s) for the political hookers who ruin run the country.

Edited December 30, 2014 by siampolee

[Exsexyman]

Some great answers to some stupid questions here. Very very funny.

http://funnyshit.com.au/aussie_tourism.html

[Freed1948]

This is old news.

[Neilly]

Some great answers to some stupid questions here. Very very funny.

http://funnyshit.com.au/aussie_tourism.html

Q: Will I be able to speek English most places I go? (USA) A: Yes, but you'll have to learn it first.

[ezzra]

Well, if it wasn't for those silly questions, what else would the consular staff will be doing

in their ivory towers but to charge you for every single service they provide and than

some more?....

[Manbing]

Typical Ozzy Behaviour ...555555555

Yes that maybe true, there is a similar list for the British consulur service too. But not for the USA.

The USA decided not to fund the 4 full time staff required to maintain this list at each consulate around the world.

Edited December 30, 2014 by Manbing

[oneday]

I don't understand this article. What is the fuss about? When an unreasonable request comes in, stamp it "NO!" and move on.

"People who make repeat requests for unreasonable assistance will be turned down."

So does this means the FIRST request to foot the bill for a prostitute will be granted?

What a ridiculous article.

[Basil B]

Aussies should be band for going abroad...

[ICECOOL]

same crap from about 2 months ago...must be slow news day

[slipperylobster]

Wow...and I thought they were supposed to be smarter than other folks...

[ersl]

Actually they provide no assitance. Australian so called Embassies and Consular offices are purely for business purposes. See here:

http://www.restoreaustralia.org.au/shes-not-right-mate/.

[White Christmas13]

Aussies should be band for going abroad...

Do you mean form a band?

[HerbalEd]

This is old news.

Not to everyone here. Obviously you're much more sophisticated than us. Must be boring being so cool when everyone else isn't.

[MikeN]

Aussies should be band for going abroad...

Don't you mean banned from going abroad ?

You cannot speak English, so are you an American, or a Kiwi ?

[harrry]

Wonder how many consular dollars it cost that time Malcolm Fraser lost his trousers?

[romeijoe]

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Aussies should be band for going abroad... alt=tongue.png>

mmmmmm - not nice !!!!!