Current lockdown started on the 4th of Jan, and the travel restrictions came in then. We also had lockdown part 2 back in November, for the whole of November, lockdown part 1 from April-June last year, and various degrees of lockdown in between with regional variations...
I've lived in Aus before, and I agree it's great for many reasons, am looking forward to being back.
On the electrical thing, I know there are some restrictions on what you can do in the UK - putting in new circuits, adding new lighting circuits etc. I've pushed the boundaries a bit here AFAICT by fixing a lighting circuit* and swapping a few single sockets for doubles. Other work like putting cat 6 in the walls I did myself without a thought. Looks like I need to take a look at the regs.
( * the light switch in our bedroom somehow flicked between "one bulb on" and "two bulbs in series", with no off setting )
(oh wow, you're right, I can't change a light fitting, or even legally change a plug from UK -> Aus without breaking the law. Will have to buy new cables where I can, maybe change one or two plugs before I leave!)
There was (is?) a rumour that changing light globes was technically illegal under the letter of the law in Victoria. A quick search shows this may have been a 1998 law amended in 1999. Either way, people believed it which says something.
> This is the same in many countries, including the UK right now.
It isn't really. Many countries barred non-resident non-citizens from entering but only a couple went to the extent of attempting to prohibit their own citizens from leaving. The latter restriction is far more draconian.
I have a problem with it. The definition of "pandemic warranting a lockdown" is a national one, and other countries have a different opinion on it.
By all means, protect your own country by preventing people from going in, but people should be free to leave to a different place with more relaxed rules at their own risk.
* Lockout laws
* Jaywalking laws
* Weaker environmental protests than UK, despite Aus lagging the rest of the world on environmentalism.
* Mandatory helmet laws.
* Illegal to perform DIY electrics, e.g. change a plug.
* International travel currently banned. To leave Australia at the moment would require either exemption, or I relinquish citizenship.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Cronulla_riots was the last riot involving shirtless shrimp barbecuing cobbers. Not a proud moment.