Originally Posted by
AusEuroFlyer
I can't even buy things in LHR to take back to Australia
If you're on a QF direct flight to Australia via BKK or HKG (ie QF2 or QF30), you should be able to take with you anything that you can buy at LHR post-security, including liquids. See the "Flights To Australia" section of
this page, which says:-
Passengers Travelling from London to Australia via Bangkok or Hong Kong
Passengers on the same flight number and aircraft may leave their carry on baggage on board (including liquids, aerosols and gels exceeding 100ml) during the transit in Bangkok and Hong Kong. This is applicable to the following flights:
QF2 London - Bangkok - Sydney
QF30 London - Hong Kong - Melbourne
Please note: This does not include passengers making a transfer in Bangkok or Hong Kong (for example, passengers travelling on QF30 London - Hong Kong transferring to QF188 Hong Kong - Sydney who will be required to remove all of their carry on baggage at the transfer/final port before arrival into Australia, and be screened before joining their onward flight.
Passengers transferring to a connecting flight departing from an international terminal in Australia must place liquids, aerosols and gels exceeding 100ml in their checked baggage after clearing Customs and Immigration in Australia. If your baggage has been through-checked to an onward destination you will not have access to your checked baggage and you should not purchase these items before arrival in Australia. Any purchases made before arrival in Australia which are carried in carry on baggage will have to be surrendered at the transfer screening point and will not be returned.
You have to leave it onboard the aircraft at the transit point, otherwise it will get confiscated at security there. But if it remains on board the aircraft, then it is fine to travel to Australia.
So the idea that this has been done as some form of restrictive trade practice to favour Australian shops is pretty off-beam, when the problem (so far as QF flights are concerned) only applies in relation to flights via Singapore.