Nothing to declare

[DuckyMoDuckyMoMo]

AIBU to think some of them are rather dick-ish.

I'm watching today's one where the officer is a tad patronising. The tourist explained his uncle doesn't speak English so that's why he was talking to him in the queue and was telling him what to do. And the fact he's brought 15 t-shirts for 7 days obviously means he's a drug smuggler I feel sorry for him I know they have to be thorough but when I go away for two weeks I take 18 bikinis about 30 pairs of underwear and at least 28 t-shirts and about 20 bottoms lol

they even fined someone $220 for a banana that they gave them on the plane

It's not a serious thread but it puts me off going lol

I've seen a lot of those, while working in an airport is hardwork, I've done it, some of those workers are proper patronizing and probably doing it for the drama factor.

I agree, they are dick-ish.

My DFather loves this show, I think he enjoys getting riled up about 'foreigners' who take the piss with the laws of the land and don't speak English DF believes that of course everyone realises you can't bring a banana into Australia. I say that why would someone who might not be able to speak or read English be aware of it being illegal to bring fruit and veg into the country? I mean it's not exactly a kilo of crack cocaine is it?!

I think the officers are sanctimonious, pompous and overly officious. They seem to be on a bit of a power trip tbh.

TBF, Airports can turn the most sane people, into pompous powertrippy twats.

I could understand the banana mans outage he'd flew in on a Australian flight and they confirmed that the bananas were from Australia but that "wasn't the point".

Must admit was shocked when the old lady who had a holdall full of Turkish flower after visiting her family in Turkey got a warning for being "old and not understanding" she lived in Australia haha

When I was in Australia for a holiday last year, there were so many variations of nothing to declare on the TV, the Aussies seem to love that sort of stuff, and judging by the demeanour of various officials there this seems to be the general tone they take and are obsessed with minor offences such as jay walking and drunkenness.

Someone I know was fined for importing banana in her bag when entering Australia. She is coeliac, and keeps one for emergencies when travelling.

She is Australian, but didn't know.

I think $220 for a banana is crazy especially when you see people being in suitcases of food and just get a warning

did you see the one with the old man and the turkey he cried

No

I try to watch if everyday after hollyoaks! I saw one the other day that got upset because he wouldn't be back into to feed his cat and he would be hungry and worried he was meowing and everything haha

Fcking love this show, should be called shouting at foreigners repeatedly and with impunity. "This is foud. Did you read the caard. What does the caard say? Clearly this is foouuud." I do the best impression of this.

I may need to get out more.

One if the worst I saw was the most obnoxious British man I've ever seen on the show. He was vile. Truly vile.
He kept asking the poor woman if she was on overtime and generally bullying her. Tbh had I been in her shoes I'd have made life a lot more difficult for him than she did.

When we arrived in Oz there were massive queues. An official was walking up and down asking "has anyone got any foodstuffs" and I said "hell no, I watch Nothing To Declare!" and she hoiked us out and sent us straight through!

So thinking about it, I suppose it's good publicity for them in that it makes many tourists (and Aussies) aware of what happens at the border. So it's OK to watch as it's not crap telly it's educational

The cards have the text in several languages and it is not hard to understand 'any food'. Australia is a continent and it has to protect itself from contamination. I love NtD!

Me and my friend have already said if we visit we may tick yes to food just incase as it's not worth it haha.

I like to find out the way they package drugs haha I have often wondered why they don't put then in then little white packets we get with everything saying do not eat on them lol.

We've also wondered what would happen if we lined a book with surface or talc if we'd get in trouble I love this show I'm sad haha

Half If I ever go to OZ, I'm so trying that line.

I love this programme too. I can waste hours being sucked into it

I think the thing with the food is not so much the bringing it in, it's the lying about it on the card. If I ever go I'm just going to tick yes to everything to be on the safe side

I love this programme and watch it whenever I get the chance. I watched an episode one week where they were quizzing a lady about her reasons for travelling to Australia just to spend 3 days, only problem for me was it was a two-parter and I have yet to see the second part.

I do sometimes think they make a big deal over things that appear to be completely inconsequential - 15 t shirts for 7 days as above, but I guess it fits into a pattern that flags up other concerns

I remember watching one where they stopped a woman who appeared to have something around her waist. Instead of just asking her what it was they went through this massive rigmarole of searching all her bags, x raying the empty bags, swab testing everything where they found absolutely nothing, before finally asking to check her body. It turned out to be some sort of back support belt

I think they do a marvellous job in protecting Australia's borders.

I love the accents.

It's funny watching the people who think they've got away with bringing a suitcase of fermented fish look all innocent when they open them.

I liked the couple who had animals skins, totems and lots of weird and interesting stuff. They'd had a native American wedding and were allowed to take it all home.

As an Australian, I have no sympathy for anyone who tries to circumvent our quarantine and customs laws.

You get shown a video on the plane before you land, you have to fill out a form (in whatever language you choose) telling you to declare "any food", there's posters and signs all over the arrival and baggage halls in many different languages, there are big bins telling you to dispose of food before going through quarantine and officers will ask you several times if you have anything to declare before putting you in a line. Seriously, how much intelligence does it take to determine what "any food" or "any wood" or "any animal products" means?

Declare everything, even if you think it doesn't matter. If you declare it and it's not ok to have, then there is no penalty. If you don't declare and it is not ok to have, that's when you'll get a fine.

I travel a lot and have never had a problem with customs or quarantine. I've bought in heaps of food over the years, and even bought in live orchids from Singapore. You walk up to them and say "hey I have this chocolate bar" and they check, and you're on your way.

Australian industries and wildlife could be devastated if some pests or diseases come in to the country. Anyone who doesn't respect that can fuck right off (and I include Australian citizens in that statement).

But what are the chances of one banana that was given out on the Australian plane having something that would destroy something? Serious question btw

Well for starters, it's very likely that the banana originated in an overseas country and was loaded at the departure point.

But aside from that, it's not up to a member of the public to say "oh I think this is ok." EVERYTHING you are bombarded with on the plane and after you land tell you to "dump it or declare it". There's even photos of bananas on those posters. Your friend really had no excuse. If she had declared the food (what part of "any food" did she not understand?) then they would have destroyed it and she would be on her way without penalty. She chose to ignore all the information and got caught.

Australia is not a continent. Australians claim it to be, but it isn't (otherwise Greenland would be a continent) Australasia/Oceania is the continent.

Its not about the chances, its a blanket ban, it has to be. The form is in loads of languages.

ps "coloured lady" Is this programme set in the 1970's?