Most people probably already know, but I thought I'd relay my experience of going through Melbourne Airport recently after spending about 2 years travelling.
I landed into Melbourne airport and innocently decided to declare my prescription medicine, and was immediately questioned about my past travel destinations. I had my phone seized, it's entire contents searched, my camera, and the same for my laptop. That resulted in a 3 hour delay and a threat of a travel ban.
How it all transpired was that, I was initially suspected of being a drug-trafficker, because I was only transiting for a short time, and my previous destination had been Thailand. So, if your prior stop was Thailand, I'd avoid telling them that unless your hand is forced. Upon their satisfaction that I wasn't guilty of drug-trafficking my phone was then seized. I had no idea that this was even legal; I thought a gross invasion of privacy.
It was demanded that I unlock my phone, and she then proceeded to search through all my text messages, emails, Facebook communications, and media.
She came across some pictures of my girls who I have on my phone, some of them were in states of undress; so this automatically labelled me as a paedophile, I didn't sweat it, I don't sleep with underage girls, but this didn't stop her from assuming I was; because to an XXL sized Australian Femi-nazi border guard any girl from Asia who is under 30 looks like a kid!
So, that entailed quizzing me on the name, age, and finally trying to trip me up with their date of birth.
This continued to my camera, and finally my laptop; of which they searched the entire thing, quizzing me on each person they found.
Femi-nazi: Who is this?
Me: My sister!
Femi-nazi: What's her name??
Me: Bob!
Upon them finding some fetish porn, that they deemed objectionable, I was then threatened that I was going to be banned from ever travelling to Australia again.
This was all the while they were using as loud a voice as possible so as to try and maximise my 'embarrassment' while being surrounded by other travellers.
Overall - probably one of the worst customs experiences I've ever had.
Unlike other countries were you are generally treated with a modicum of respect, and you are innocent until proven guilty - in Australia, they are using a magnifying glass to find any reason to deport you and behave like rabid pack animals looking their next prey.
Moral of that story: If you travel to Australia don't travel with porn of any kind, don't have pictures of females on your phone (even if they are dressed), and be prepared to have your dignity and pride trampled on, don't declare if your travel itinerary passes through suspicious locations - you will be interrogated & having a password on your device means nothing, they will demand you unlock it, and if you don't they will seize it, and ban you from entering the country.
Happy travels.
I landed into Melbourne airport and innocently decided to declare my prescription medicine, and was immediately questioned about my past travel destinations. I had my phone seized, it's entire contents searched, my camera, and the same for my laptop. That resulted in a 3 hour delay and a threat of a travel ban.
How it all transpired was that, I was initially suspected of being a drug-trafficker, because I was only transiting for a short time, and my previous destination had been Thailand. So, if your prior stop was Thailand, I'd avoid telling them that unless your hand is forced. Upon their satisfaction that I wasn't guilty of drug-trafficking my phone was then seized. I had no idea that this was even legal; I thought a gross invasion of privacy.
It was demanded that I unlock my phone, and she then proceeded to search through all my text messages, emails, Facebook communications, and media.
She came across some pictures of my girls who I have on my phone, some of them were in states of undress; so this automatically labelled me as a paedophile, I didn't sweat it, I don't sleep with underage girls, but this didn't stop her from assuming I was; because to an XXL sized Australian Femi-nazi border guard any girl from Asia who is under 30 looks like a kid!
So, that entailed quizzing me on the name, age, and finally trying to trip me up with their date of birth.
This continued to my camera, and finally my laptop; of which they searched the entire thing, quizzing me on each person they found.
Femi-nazi: Who is this?
Me: My sister!
Femi-nazi: What's her name??
Me: Bob!
Upon them finding some fetish porn, that they deemed objectionable, I was then threatened that I was going to be banned from ever travelling to Australia again.
This was all the while they were using as loud a voice as possible so as to try and maximise my 'embarrassment' while being surrounded by other travellers.
Overall - probably one of the worst customs experiences I've ever had.
Unlike other countries were you are generally treated with a modicum of respect, and you are innocent until proven guilty - in Australia, they are using a magnifying glass to find any reason to deport you and behave like rabid pack animals looking their next prey.
Moral of that story: If you travel to Australia don't travel with porn of any kind, don't have pictures of females on your phone (even if they are dressed), and be prepared to have your dignity and pride trampled on, don't declare if your travel itinerary passes through suspicious locations - you will be interrogated & having a password on your device means nothing, they will demand you unlock it, and if you don't they will seize it, and ban you from entering the country.
Happy travels.