12 Aussie Laws That Seem a Little Strange

Posted on 19 April 2016

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard have apologised for illegally transporting their two Yorkshire terriers to Australia on their private jet.

In a court hearing in Queensland Heard admitted to falsifying documents when bringing her furry friends Down Under last year. The court ruled that Heard was genuinely sorry and that she should not be given a criminal conviction.

Taking Pistol and Boo (the dogs) to Australia has generated a lot of media and press attention -and serves as a reminder of just how many odd laws our Australian cousins still have on their statute books.

Here are a dozen strange rules that are enough to make you 'go troppo' if you ever fell foul of them...

The Ettamogah Pub, Albury, New South Wales, Australia (johnjewell/Bigstock.com)

1. Australian pubs must feed, water and stable its customers' horses.

2. It is illegal to change a light bulb in Victoria unless you are a qualified electrician.

3. Wearing a disguise without a lawful reason is illegal.

4. If you put out a reward for lost or stolen property and state "no questions asked" you could be liable to a $500 penalty.

5. It is illegal to venture within 100m of a dead whale.

6. Anyone caught spitting in Brisbane could find themselves on the wrong side of the law.

7. Walking on the right hand side of a path is not legal.

8. Leaving your car keys in an unattended vehicle is also against the law.

9. Walking around town in black clothes, felt shoes and black shoe polish on your face is not permitted by law.

10. A neck-to-knee bathing suit must be worn by bathers on Melbourne's Brighton Beach – or else.

11. If you are under 18 you cannot buy cigarettes – but smoking them is fine, legally speaking.

12. And yes, it is STILL illegal to wear pink hot pants in Victoria on Sunday after 12pm.

Bonus law: It is illegal to be drunk in an Australian pub.

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