Rules and laws in Australia (2026)
Last reviewed: 15 October 2026
Every topic we cover for Australia. Each rule links to its official source.
States and territories
- Rules and laws in New South Wales
- Rules and laws in Queensland
- Rules and laws in South Australia
- Rules and laws in Tasmania
- Rules and laws in the Australian Capital Territory
- Rules and laws in the Northern Territory
- Rules and laws in Victoria
- Rules and laws in Western Australia
Driving
Car speed limits
Speed limits in Australia are set by each state and territory, and no single national figures were verified for this page. Posted limits on signs apply.
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Drink-driving limits
Australia has no national drink-driving law: each state and territory sets its own limits and penalties. No national values are shown here. See the state and territory pages where available.
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Driving after drugs
Drug driving is regulated by each Australian state and territory, not by one national rule. No national value could be confirmed from an official source, so nothing is stated for Australia as a whole.
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E-bikes and speed pedelecs
Australia has no single national road-use rule for e-bikes that was verified here. The Commonwealth vehicle standard defines an electrically power-assisted cycle (EPAC) as a pedal cycle with a motor of up to 250 W whose assistance cuts out at 25 km/h.
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E-scooters
No national e-scooter rule has been verified. Whether and how e-scooters may be used on public roads and paths is set by each state and territory, and the individual state rules are not compared here yet.
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Foreign driving licences
Visitors without a permanent visa may drive on a valid overseas licence, with an international driving permit or an English translation if the licence is not in English. Time limits apply in the Northern Territory (3 months), New South Wales and Victoria (6 months); a permanent resident or citizen needs an Australian licence.
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Minimum age for a car driving licence
No national minimum age for a car driving licence has been verified. Licensing is administered by each state and territory, and the individual state rules are not compared here yet.
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Mopeds
Rules for who may ride a moped are set by each state and territory and were not read for this page. The Commonwealth vehicle standard classes a 2-wheeled moped (category LA) as a vehicle with a maximum motor cycle speed of no more than 50 km/h.
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Motorcycles: helmets and licences
Motorcycle rules and licensing in Australia are set by each state and territory. No national rule is given here; the individual jurisdictions have not yet been checked.
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Road tolls and vignettes
Tolls are charged on named toll roads, set by each state or territory, and an account with a toll payment provider may be used on any toll road in Australia. Sydney toll roads allow payment up to 72 hours afterwards and Queensland up to 3 days.
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Seat belts and child seats
Seat belt and child restraint rules in Australia come from the road rules of each state and territory, based on the model Australian Road Rules, which are not national law. No single national value could be confirmed, so the detail is not stated for Australia as a whole.
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Towing trailers and caravans
No national rule for towing a trailer or caravan has been verified. The rules mostly sit with each state and territory and are not compared here yet.
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Using a mobile phone while driving
Road rules are made by each state and territory, based on a national model rule on mobile phones. Fines, demerit points and novice-driver restrictions differ, so no national value is given.
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Travel
Air passenger rights
Australia has no statutory fixed-sum compensation scheme for delayed or cancelled flights comparable to EU261 or UK261 in the sources read. Passengers have the automatic consumer guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law, which can lead to a replacement flight or a refund. An Aviation Consumer Protection Bill 2026 (ombuds scheme and charter) is before the Senate.
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Customs allowances for tobacco and alcohol
Australia allows travellers aged 18 or over 2.25 litres of alcoholic beverages in total, and 25 cigarettes or 25 grams of tobacco, free of duty. If a limit is exceeded, duty and tax apply to all goods of that type, not only the excess.
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Health cover for temporary visitors
Australia has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with 11 countries. Eligible visitors get medically necessary care as public patients in public hospitals, and some PBS medicines at the general rate. Eligibility and the documents needed differ by country.
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Identity documents
Everyone arriving in or leaving Australia must have a valid passport or travel document, and anyone who is not a citizen must hold a valid visa on entry. Australian passport holders do not need a visa.
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Meat and dairy imports
Australia sets conditions by the foot-and-mouth disease status of the country of origin, not by EU membership. Personal imports of dairy products and infant formula are allowed up to 10 kg or 10 litres under conditions, and meat is subject to strict conditions; food must be declared.
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Minors travelling: documents
Every traveller, including a child, must have their own Australian passport. Before taking a child overseas, consent from everyone with parental responsibility or a court order is needed, and a consent letter may be asked for when a child travels with one parent or a non-parent.
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Tax-free shopping for visitors
Travellers leaving Australia, including residents, can claim back GST on goods bought from one business for AUD 300 or more. The claim is lodged in person at the airside Tourist Refund Scheme facility after passport control.
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Living
Deposit return schemes and plastic bags
No national value is shown for Australia. Container deposit schemes and plastic carrier bag rules were not verified.
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Dual nationality
Australia does not require a person to give up another nationality to become a citizen by conferral. Acquiring another nationality does not end Australian citizenship; citizenship ends only through renunciation, revocation or a court cessation order.
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Home education
Home education is regulated by each state and territory, not by the Commonwealth. Registration, procedure and compulsory school age differ, so no national value is given.
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Maximum working time
The National Employment Standards set a maximum of 38 weekly hours of work, plus reasonable additional hours. Daily and weekly rest and daily limits are not set by the National Employment Standards in the sources read; awards and agreements cover them.
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Naturalisation by residence
Australian citizenship by conferral generally needs four years of lawful presence in Australia, including 12 months as a permanent resident, and a successfully completed citizenship test. Applicants are not required by the Act to give up another citizenship.
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Paid holiday
Employees in the national system (except casuals) get 4 weeks of paid annual leave a year, plus an extra week for certain shiftworkers. Each state and territory sets its own public holidays, so there is no national count. A public holiday that falls during paid annual leave is not counted as annual leave.
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Smoke alarms in homes
Smoke alarm duties for existing homes and rented homes are set by state and territory law, and requirements differ, so no national value is given.
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State pension age
The Age Pension pension age is 67 years for people born on or after 1 January 1957. Earlier birth dates have lower ages, set by the tables in the Social Security Act 1991, and the Age Pension is not payable before pension age.
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Statutory minimum wage
The national minimum wage is A$26.44 per hour (A$1,004.90 for a 38-hour week) from 1 July 2026. It applies to employees in the national system who are not covered by an award or registered agreement; most employees are covered by an award or agreement, which sets the minimum for them. It is reviewed every year, with changes normally starting on or after 1 July.
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Restrictions
Cannabis
Cannabis possession, growing and use are governed mainly by state and territory law, so there is no single national position. Medicinal cannabis is available nationally through the Therapeutic Goods Administration's Special Access Scheme, Authorised Prescriber scheme and clinical trials.
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Drinking age and alcohol sales
Alcohol sales and age rules are set by each State and Territory. No national value could be confirmed from an official source.
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Drones
A drone flown for sport or recreation is a model aircraft under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, so no registration, accreditation or remote pilot licence is required for it. Other rules for model aircraft, such as keeping it in sight and 30 m from people, apply; height, insurance and Remote ID are not verified.
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Fireworks
Fireworks laws in Australia are set by each state and territory and differ between them. No national rule is given here; the individual jurisdictions have not yet been checked.
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Knives and pepper spray
Rules on carrying knives and pepper spray in public are set by each state and territory and differ between them. No national rule is given here; the individual jurisdictions have not yet been checked.
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Tobacco and nicotine age limits
Nicotine pouches may not be sold in Australia from 24 July 2026. Vapes are available only through pharmacies; without a prescription a pharmacist may supply them only to people aged 18 or over. The minimum age for tobacco and smoke-free rules are set by each state and territory and are not given here.
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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.