Just got my new Aussie passport in the post and I’ve got to say I’m impressed. And not just because I only had my ‘interview’ last Friday. Nup, what I’m really stoked about is that the new passport is actually kinda sexy.
The cover is very plain and austere. Just a silver embossed coat of arms, the word ‘passport’ and the little flag symbol that indicates that it’s biometric. But once you get in side it’s a kaleidoscope of muted purples, greens and reds with each double page spread depicting an Australian animal on one side and a ‘lifestyle’ shot on the other.
The pages I scanned and put up below, for example, feature an echidna and a pub with a ute and an FJ Holden parked out front.
The ‘lifestyle’ pics interest me in particular. They are obviously examples of how we like to see ourselves as a nation. From flicking through the pages I’ve been able to deduce that us Aussies are surf-lifesaving, camel-riding, homestead-living, horse race-watching, cattle-droving, cricket-playing, scuba diving, sunbathing, empty road-driving, caravanning, surfing, road train-driving, netball-playing, pub frequenting folk with a penchant for wearing drizabone coats.
Sums me up to a T.
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Nice! If/when you get UK citizenship, don’t expect anything quite as colourful from this lot over here. To be so characterful and human in something as austere as a passport just wouldn’t be cricket, what.
I can see border crossings taking even longer now when immigration officials insist on looking at ALL of the pretty pictures!
What! I’ve NEVER seen you wear a drizabone! The rest is spot on, though.
Yes, I remember that game of one-on-one Netball we had in Oxford well!
And I guess our new German passports are totaly boring ;-P Didn’t get to see one yet. Cheers
When I first got my biometric passport I assumed that the chip symbol on the front was an Aboriginal flag.
Ben – I thought the exact same thing.
Almost seems a pity to cover up the art with ugly visas and stamps!
Got to say I’m a little disappointed there is no mention of page dedicated to Harold from neighbours….
Ahhhh, my passport is due for renewal pretty much now too – guess I’d better drag my arse down to the Strand and get it sorted.
Would it be wrong to request that on my travels immigration don’t stamp over the FJ though?!?
Peter and Ben,
I also tought the same. Shall we start a campaign to include aboriginal flag at the top cover of the passport?
Dr. Muhammad Imad Khan