Survival Guide - Sydney - page 534

Taxes & Refunds
There's a 10% goods and services tax (GST) automatically added to almost everything
you buy, Australia-wide. If you purchase goods with a total minimum value of $300 from
any one store within 30 days of departure from Australia, the Tourist Refund Scheme en-
titles you to a refund of any GST paid. Keep your receipts and carry the items on board
your flight as hand luggage; you can get a cheque refund or a credit card refund at the des-
ignated booth located past Customs at Sydney airport (see www.customs.gov.au for more
information).
Telephone
» Public telephones, which can be found all over the city, take phonecards, credit cards
and occasionally (if the coin slots aren't jammed up) coins.
» Australia's country code: 61
» Sydney's area code: 02 (drop the zero when dialling into Australia)
» International access code: 0011 (used when dialling other countries from Australia)
» Toll-free numbers start with the prefix 1800, while numbers that start with 1300 are only
the cost of a local call.
Mobile Phones
» Australian mobile-phone numbers have four-digit prefixes starting with 04.
» Australia's digital network is compatible with GSM 900 and 1800 handsets (used in
Europe). Quad-band US phones will work, but to avoid global-roaming charges, you need
an unlocked handset that takes prepaid SIM cards from Australian providers.
» It's illegal to talk on a hand-held mobile phone while driving.
Phonecards
Local and international phonecards range in value from $5 to $50 - look for the phone-
card logo at retail outlets, such as newsagents. There is a bewildering variety of cards
available, with all sorts of deals aimed at visitors wanting to get in touch with loved ones
in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Shop around.