Yes it's crony capitalism, with the PM's ex-chief beaurocrat a big winner from these changes. But this is a win for the battler. Twice the grog and ciggies duty free. Thaat's 2 bottles of Jim Beam thanks.

It is actually a strange set-up in Sydney Airport. I once came off the plane from a business trip and walked towards the passport control. The layout is such that you have to walk through the duty free shop to get there. This time there were signs advertising "2 bottles duty free". Yes there was fine print, which said the rules (as they were) allowed for two bottles of spirits. I picked a bourbon (for me) and a gin (for Mrs M) and paid. Made my way through passport control, got my bag and thought I was doing well as the whole thing had taken only 20 minutes.

Then the customs man waved me over to the red lane. This is not so rare, especially if you are carrying a duty free bag. I knew something was up as soon as he asked if I had filled my customs form myself. This wasn't the time for my humour (eg "No, I got the drug smuggler next to me to fill it in"). He then pointed out the limit on grog was 1.25 Litres (or whatever), whereas my two 800mL bottles came to a little more than that. There was a second where I contemplated the inside of an Australian prison with a guy named Bubba as a cellmate. I pointed out it was strange the duty free shop was advertising it as legal when it turns out it isn't (or wasn't at that stage). With a sigh the customs man proceeded to tell me how they are having all sorts of problems with the duty free people, but the privatised Sydney Airport is more interested in the $ than the law. He smiled and told me to be careful next time, and I was free to go. He said they had so many people caught out by this they were waving the excess duty because they couldn't process the paperwork.

I didn't argue. I left. Now I don't need to worry as the limit is going up.