Copyright 1996

particular kinds of food
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the bus
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J      No, no, not really They usually like what
A    Yes, it was the 504 I sometimes catch the
I've got to offer  
506, but I know I didn't this morning,
A    And when when you have cake, is there
because the 506 is a bit later and I have to
one kind that seems to be more popular
run to get to the lecture on time
than others
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Pw Fine Have you reported this to the
J     Well, 1 think the chocolate cream cake
Transport Authority Lost Property
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always seems to be the favourite and
A    Yes, yeah, I've done that, but they said I
then you'\ e got your apple cake and that,
should also come to you in case someone
which is also popular
brought it in, particularly as my passport
A    Mm Are there any other differences
was in it
between staff and students' tastes'
Pw  Was there anything else in the briefcase
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J      I don't know The staff usually go for the
A    A couple of library books that I wouldn't
hot lunches, you know, curry or spaghetti
really want to lose and some notes, that's
and so on but a lot of the students bring
about it
their own lunch  
Pw No money
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A    Tell me, er, when you're so busy how do
A    No, I've got my cash in my pocket
you manage to deal with the dirty
Policem      Hey, Jill, did I hear you taking
plates — do you do you collect all the
down details for a lost passport
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Guess
plates off the tables or do you have a
what
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trolley, or what
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Pw What
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Tell us What's happened
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J      Students are usually quite good about
Pm You won't believe it but someone just
that — they bring their plates — to a
turned in a briefcase containing a
designated area — actually that bench
passport and they found it on the 504 bus
over there in the corner against the wall
this morning  
A    Oh I guess that's better than bringing
Pw Well how about that Adam
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 Looks like
them back to the counter or leaving them
you've had a lucky day after all
for you
1
  
J      Yes that \\ould be really messy if they
Section 2
did that'  
Adam        Does your work bring you into
 
contact with many overseas students,
Policew      Can 1 help you sir
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Sue
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Adam        Well I hope so You see, I left my
Sue            Occasionally As you know, a
briefcase, u ith my passport in it, on the
solicitor's work is to advise people about
bus this morning  
their rights when they have any problems
Tv\   Right then 1 d better have a few details
understanding how the law operates
What b your full name
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They may need help because of injury to
A    Adam George O Riordan That's oh I II
themselves or their property — if they've
spell it O-aposlrophe-R-l-O-R-D-A-N
been attacked or robbed, for example But
Pu   And }our address
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these are not by any means the main
A    "!0 Rose St Marryatville
problems I deal with  
V\\   1 low do you spell Marryatville
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A    Really
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We know more about crime, I
A    M-A-double R-Y-A- f-V-I-double L-E
suppose, because we read about it in the
I'w  And you say you lost your passport Do
newspaper or see it on TV What other
you happen to know the number
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things do people come to you, for help
A    Yes luckily 1 kept a record of it in my
with
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---

S    There are lots of things which don't get
allowed to bring in delicacies from home
nearly so much attention Sometimes it's
for friends and relatis es here I'm
ID 
do with relationships in the
defending someone at the moment who
community as when bills, aren't paid or
has exactly that problem  
contracted » ork isn't completed, or
A
Oh
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What happened
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neighbours disagree At other times it's to
S
It's an interesting case Have >ou got time
do with people not understanding the
for a cup of coffee
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 I'll tell you about it if
law and their responsibilities and this is
you like
probably where overseas students have
A
That'd be great
1
  
the most difficulty One interesting
example is customs laws — something
Section 3
which every new arrival has to come up
Sue
It was a boy from Vietnam
against  
coming to study here and he was caught
A    What is it that overseas students find
bringing in some processed pork and
most difficult to understand about
some Vietnamese sweets for his relatives
Australian customs regulations
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Adam        Doesn't exactly sound criminal
1
S    1 think it's a shock to many people
S
No, well, he was going to be staying with
arriving here for the first time to find out
them and no doubt the family wanted to
how many things are prohibited —
show their gratitude and appreciation so
everyday food items, for example I
they decided to send something from
mean, when I've been travelling overseas,
home that might not be available over
I've been quite amazed at the lack of
here
concern in some countries about food
A
Of course
1
1 can imagine doing the same
being brought in from other parts of the
myself
world without any check
S
Yes, but the leaflet attached to the
A    You mean, people arriving into other
customs declaration says very clearly in
countries don't have to declare any
red letters that no food of any kind may
foodstuffs at all
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be brought into Australia and every
S    In some countries there are lots of
passenger coming in must sign a
warnings about drugs and firearms and
declaration to say that they're not
there are usually limits on alcohol and
carrying any food with them  
tobacco and perhaps perfume, but food's
A
That's right, I can remember doing it, too
not mentioned  
So this chap is really in trouble, is he
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A    Yes, I suppose I never thought about it till
S
He certainly is
1
 After he d told the
I came here You can take anything you
customs officer that he wasn t tarrying
like into England, as far as food is
any food, the goods were found in his
concerned that is  
luggage
S    You see, here, you can't even drive from
A
Oh, so they searched him
1
  
one state to another with a few apples
S
They did And of course ne looked really
and oranges for the journey You have to
guilty, being caught w ith that food in his
leave all fruit in a special deposit box at
suitcase
the border It's the same when you're
A
He must've been shocked to realize that
flying There are signs to remind you not
the customs officer thought he had
to bring any fruit into some states,
broken the law and he was being charged
though they don't usually search your
with a criminal offence
1
 1 mean, most
bags, unless there's a fruit fly epidemic or
people understand about drugs and
something  
weapons and such obviously prohibited
A    Hm With those kinds of regulations
items but I suppose they don t see food in
between states, it's no wonder that
quite the same way  
they're so strict about what you can bring
S
The thing is, we are an island and we do
in from overseas Of course, farmers
have crops and livestock to protect The
would be wiped out if some pest were
average person doesn t understand how
introduced which destroyed their whole
dangerous some imported foodstufts tan
crop It's easy to understand why you
be
should take steps to prevent that
A
Then it sounds like you re in for a lough
S    And with food being such an important
time defending this chap Dm, what re