Yet another reason how Howard was an evil bastard that we're lucky to be rid of.
I had only traveled to Thailand a matter of months before the Howard government (Alexander Downer as foreign minister specifically, who is known for crossdressing himself!) changed the law. We were allowed to have the passport changed to travel on for safety reasons just as was mentioned in this story. They went out of their way to make this change.
I was very lucky to not have been in that position, but it was only luck. Thats one of the many reasons why I voted out Howard. Thats one of the many reasons I ran for parliament myself at the last election. You have to be vigilant for these sorts of creeps.
To love what one has is to be resigned to never get what one wants.
Natalie Clifford Barney.