Children fly kites
Palestinian children fly kites on the beach of Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip Reuters/Mohammed Salem

Australia is known to be a very liberal country. However, it does not mean that the locals are also devoid of certain rules -- some of which might seem absurd to foreigners.

Here are some of the strange Australian laws that visitors have to be familiar with to avoid problems.

1. Wearing hot pink pants after midday on Sundays

In Victoria, Australia, it is forbidden to wear hot pink pants after noon on a Sunday. The rationale is not very clear but some people believe that the government might be trying to keep the Sabbath day holy by wearing less attractive clothes.

2. Wearing all black

It is prohibited in Australia to be dressed all black, wear felt shoes and have black shoe polish on your face. The reason is that the attire is what a burglar would normally wear. Australian lawmakers might have decided that it would be more difficult for potential burglars if they had to dress up somewhere before raiding someone's home.

3. Flying kites in public places

The Summary Offences Act of 1966 prohibits people, including young children, from flying kites or playing games in public places that annoy other people. The lawmakers thought that it would be best to respect other people's privacy in a public place, regardless of how contradictory the policy is.

4. Changing a light bulb

Australian law requires that only licensed electricians are allowed to replace a busted light bulb. However, it could be a big waste of time, money and effort if people were prohibited from fixing a tiny lamp. The law in Victoria will fine violators 10 pounds.

5. Going near a thief-frequented house

The Vagrancy Act of 1966 prohibited people from going near or into a house that is regularly used by thieves. Australians and foreigners are not certain whether the law at the time was trying to protect the bystanders or the thieves.

More strange laws have been made by Australian lawmakers through the years including not going near a whale carcass and not reading someone's tarot. Some of these have been repealed but foreigners hope that more will be in the near future.