Free Brisbane, Australia
From Steal This Wiki
Contents |
General Guide
Please provide a general outline of the city and its neighborhoods/boroughs/parts of town, including information about political leanings, police forces, population, income levels, social services, etc.
Housing
Free housing, shelters and hostels, etc.
Food
Free/low-cost markets, produce, butchers, day-old bakeries, etc.
Food banks, missions, church meals, etc.
Medical Care
Medical and emergencies
Phone 000 for emergency fire, ambulance or police services.
For storm and flood emergencies phone the State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500.
Search the Yellow Pages for non-urgent services.
Family Planning Clinic
FPQ provides sexual and reproductive health services to the wider community of Queensland.
Education services include:
- parent/carer and family education
- community education
- one to one education
Clinical services include:
- contraceptive counselling and supply on all methods
- preventative health care eg. Pap smears, breast examinations, testicular examinations
- counselling and clinical consultation about STIs, pregnancy planning and options, menopause, sexual difficulties
FPQ ask you for a $5-$10 donation, but its not compulsory, so basically you can get free Planned Parenthood and medical advice for women.
FPQ Main contact
100 Alfred Street
Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
Phone: (07) 3250 0240
Fax: (07) 3250 0292
Legal Aid
ACLU, free legal aid/counseling, pro bono attorneys, etc.
Armed Forces/Deployment Avoidance Counseling
Legal aid, resources, etc.
Play
See Free Play section, include details for this city.
Beaches, Swimming Pools, Parks, Sports, Museums, Music, Theatre, TV shows, Movies, etc.
Information
General weather, traffic, news resources, etc.
Brisbane Weather
With predominantly hot summers and mild winters the Brisbane climate promotes outdoor activities and a subtropical lifestyle. The table below gives average maximum and minimum temperatures for Brisbane.
| Month | MAX | MIN |
|---|---|---|
| January | 30°C | 22°C |
| February | 30°C | 22°C |
| March | 28°C
6°C | 18°C |
| May | 26°C | 16°C |
| June | 22°C | 12°C |
| July | 22°C | 12°C |
| August | 24°C | 12°C |
| September | 26°C | 14°C |
| October | 28°C | 18°C |
| November | 30°C | 20°C |
| December | 30°C | 22°C |
Alcohol
It is illegal for people below 18 years of age to be sold alcohol. If you are planning to visit bars, nightclubs or restaurants in Brisbane, make sure you have proof of age (such as a passport) with you.
Beach Safety
Brisbane has an abundance of beautiful beaches on its doorstep, but always check that conditions are safe before entering the water. And don't forget the sunscreen!
Electricity
Electricity in Australia is 220-240V AC 50Hz. The sockets are three pin and you may need an adaptor. Universal outlets for 240V or 100V shavers are found in most leading hotels and multi-voltage appliances as well as adaptors are readily available in department stores and luggage shops.
Newspapers
Brisbane has one daily newspaper, The Courier Mail, and one Sunday newspaper, the Sunday Mail (both available as print editions and online). The other major online newspaper is brisbanetimes.com.au. There are several free community newspapers.
Prescription drugs
Prescription drugs are available at chemist shops and pharmacies but you must have a prescription from a doctor to have them dispensed.
Smoking
In Queensland it is illegal for people under 18 years of age to be sold cigarettes or other tobacco products. Queensland has very strict anti-smoking laws and fines will be issued to anyone smoking in no-smoking zones. Refer to the Queensland Government's website for detailed information about tobacco laws.
Tipping
Tipping is neither compulsory nor expected in Brisbane, but is nonetheless appreciated for good service in places like restaurants (where 10% of the bill is customary) and bars, as well as taxis
Visa requirements
If you are visiting Brisbane from any overseas country you’ll need a visa for Australia. If you are from New Zealand a visa will be issued on arrival in Australia. If you’re from any other country you’ll need to obtain a visa in advance.
Water quality and water restrictions
It is safe to drink water straight from the tap in Brisbane. SEQWater has detailed information about water quality in south east Queensland.
Since 23 November 2007 Level 6 water restrictions apply in Brisbane and south east Queensland. Check the SEQWater website for current dam levels.
Underground Papers
Self-explanatory
Miscellaneous
Any other freebies
Public Transit
Trains
Brisbane Trains, while not as easy to hop as other Australian capital cities, are extremely easy to ride for free. The only places that you have to worry about are the central stations (Brunswick Street, Central, and Roma Street) which have ticket inspectors on the entrance and exit. But, with a little luck, you can get around them also. Some tips:
- While riding the train, the best place to ride for free is close to the door, one car closer to the front the train from the centre divide. This way, you can look at the station when you are pulling up, checking to see if any ticket checkeres are getting onto the back carriage (from experience, they only ever get on the back and front carriages, but most likely the front), and you can easily see if there are any inspectors approaching through the front, by the just checking through the glass doors dividing the carriages.
- It's extremely rare to see inspectors on packed trains, so travelling during peek hours are pretty safe. Other than that, from experience, they seem to be on the Ipswich line the most.
- The inspectors like to collect money for your overlords, so they are commonly found on the night trains, terrorising the young, going out crowd.
- Don't forget that there are security guards on the night trains. They DO NOT check tickets, they just tell you to take your feet of the seats, to stop swearing and other such things to protect us all.
- Usually, after finishing a sweep of train, the inspectors will get off, and get on a train going in the opposite direction. This means that travel between outer stations is pretty safe, as the inspectors will usually base themselves at Central station.
- The usual tricks such as faking details like name and address, also work. Make sure you have no ID in easy to find places though. If you do get busted and they ID you, dont worry too much as everyone gets a warning for their first offense. Just don't let it happen again!
- Now, as mentioned earlier, the central stations have inspectors checking tickets at the entrances. The best way to get around this is to just use an old ticket, (one that isn't completely faded) flash it at them while you go past. For best results, walk in at the same time as another group (I find that a group of teenage girls works the best, their chattering and giggling would distract Big Brother himself.)
- During the day the tunnel under Central station to Anzac Square is often unguarded. Just have a quick glance, and go down there if it's safe.
- When there is a sporting event on, public transport is free for people going to the game. The rule is that they have to have their ticket on them, so just say that you are picking up your pre-ordered ticket up from the stadium or, if it's later in the night, that you chucked it out after you left the game. For reference, the closest stations to Suncorp Stadium is Milton and Roma Street, and the closest to the Gabba is South Brisbane. They usually don't check tickets during the rush before and after the games. If they insist on you having a game ticket, just do a Bogan style, A Current Affair watcher style blow up ("This is MY country, my taxes, blah blah blah") and they'll usually either just kick you off the train without a fine, or just let you keep riding.
Free Clothing and Furniture
See Free Clothing and Furniture section, provide details for this city.
Assorted Freebies
Free Plants
Any Brisbane resident can apply to get free plants from the Council. You can either go to the Council Website, or just drop into a library for details.
Survive
Go to the Survive section and provide any city-specific details, including new topics.
