Incoming Passenger Card and declarations

[harvyk]

And don't forget the racial profiling.

Anyone who doesn't have blue eyes and blond hair will know what I mean.

This is both true and false... There is profiling going on, but from what I saw it was more based on the flight, where it originated from and how likely there was that people from that flight would have stuff which shouldn't be here.

When I did some work for AQIS I saw it was pretty random who the picked out for closer inspection. Blonde hair blue eyes seemed to be just as likely picked as dark skinned, black hair brown eyed people.

 

[medhead]

(although one has to remember that Australia and New Zealand have unarguably the most cough-retentively strict biosecurity and quarantine laws in the world, possibly the universe).

Yeah and that screening is just there to be a massive inconvenience to you

Certainly it couldn't be because they learnt something from the cane toad, rabbit, fox and etc.

 

[anat0l]

Certainly it couldn't be because they learnt something from the cane toad, rabbit, fox and etc.

Perhaps that's the only thing we can give them the credit for. Fair enough a conclusion, however that doesn't stop the labelling given, because it is necessarily true.

FWIW European settlers into Australia have killed over 4,000 species of native flora and fauna over time through settlement or introduction of European flora, fauna and pests of both kinds.

 

[medhead]

Perhaps that's the only thing we can give them the credit for. Fair enough a conclusion, however that doesn't stop the labelling given, because it is necessarily true.

FWIW European settlers into Australia have killed over 4,000 species of native flora and fauna over time through settlement or introduction of European flora, fauna and pests of both kinds.

However, you've just outlined exactly why the label is wrong. These reasons are exactly why the laws are necessarily strict. But I think is is unfair to label them as anally retentive. cough retentivism is when a minor functional enforces the rule that a form must be filled out with a black pen only. i.e. it is a pointless power trip. Quaratine laws on the other hand have a point that is highlighted by the loss of 4000 native species as you note. Therefore, strict but not cough retentive, IMO.

 

[DrA]

And don't forget the racial profiling.

Anyone who doesn't have blue eyes and blond hair will know what I mean.

I'm both...And still get a full bag search every single time I return to Australia. Don't even get away with a simple x-ray.

Female? Travelling solo? Been to Africa or South America? Must be a drug smuggler!

 

[straitman]

I'm both...And still get a full bag search every single time I return to Australia. Don't even get away with a simple x-ray.

Female? Travelling solo? Been to Africa or South America? Must be a drug smuggler!

I guess you have two options:

1. Dye your hair or
2. Don't travel (at least to Africa and South America)

 

[DrA]

I guess you have two options:

1. Dye your hair or
2. Don't travel (at least to Africa and South America)

I think being blonde has naught to do with it. I get hauled in because I'm female and travelling alone to known drug running countries (and it's work travel - so I can't not travel there).

Being blonde and blue-eyed doesn't get you out of jack s*** at the border.

 

[anat0l]

Being blonde and blue-eyed doesn't get you out of jack s*** at the border.

Strange, it seems to work the other way in the movies.... :mrgreen:

 

[straitman]

Strange, it seems to work the other way in the movies.... :mrgreen:

anat0l,

It will never be a problem for you or I :!:

 

[DrA]

Strange, it seems to work the other way in the movies.... :mrgreen:

I know. It made me sad to find out that movies lied

 

[straitman]

I know. It made me sad to find out that movies lied

DrA,

We will still talk to you even though you are Blonde. :mrgreen:

 

[DrA]

DrA,

We will still talk to you even though you are Blonde. :mrgreen:

awww I feel all snuggly inside now

 

[straitman]

awww I feel all snuggly inside now

I hoped you would :!: