Money Matters

Currency
The national currency is the Australian Dollar (AUD).
Australian currency ($A) is decimal with the dollar as the basic unit (100 cents equals one Australian dollar). Notes: $5, $10, $20, $50, $100. Coins: 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1, $2. Prices are rounded up to the nearest 5c.

Credit Cards
Most major credit cards are welcome in Australia, including American Express, Bankcard, MasterCard, VISA and Diners Club. Banks and various locations have ATM’s (Automated Teller Machines). Credit cards may need to be enabled for international access so contact your credit card provider.

Currency Exchange
Currency exchange facilities are available at Queensland’s international airports. Most banks and larger hotels will exchange traveller's cheques. Here’s a handy currency converter www.xe.net/ucc to help you make quick and easy conversions between currencies.

Taxes
Australia has a Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 10 percent. Prices in Australia are shown as inclusive of GST. You can claim a refund of GST that you pay on goods you buy. The refund only applies to goods you take with you as hand luggage or wear on the aircraft or ship when you leave the country. For more information, please see the Tourist Refund Scheme on www.customs.gov.au.

Tipping
When eating out, shopping or taking taxis, the prices are inclusive of GST. Tipping is appreciated but not compulsory or expected. It is customary to tip a hotel porter for his efforts, a restaurant for exceptional service (10% of the bill is typical), and a taxi driver for luggage assistance.

Banks
Banks are generally open Monday-Friday 9am-4:30pm.

Shopping
The maximum permissible shopping hours in Queensland are generally 8.00am — 9.00pm weekdays and 8.00am — 5.00pm Saturdays. Brisbane and Cairns Central Business Districts (CBD’s) and the Gold and Sunshine Coasts are also open on Sundays.

There are a wide variety of quality products on offer in Australia at very competitive prices. When shopping, sightseeing or visiting theme parks on tours, remember you have a choice of where and when to shop. Shop around and compare prices and quality before you buy.

Look for the free copy of the Shopping Around in Australia brochure in many places in Queensland, such as Airports, hotels, shops, shopping centres and visitor information centres. This brochure will help you enjoy your stay and get good value for your money by providing helpful information on your consumer rights in Australia. Information is provided in four languages- English, Japanese, Chinese and Korean.