http://www.smh.com.au/news/9912/22/text/national3.html

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Y2K may hit late, travellers warned

Date: 22/12/99

By AMANDA VAUGHAN and MARK METHERELL

Australians travelling abroad may be hit by the Y2K bug days after the millennium celebrations have died down.

The Department of Foreign Affairs warned yesterday it was possible the "ripple effects" of Y2K may not be felt until business resumed in earnest around January 4 in some vulnerable countries.

DFAT experts warned of "cascade" problems that could result once important infrastructure, particularly electricity, was back in full operation after the holiday break. Power failures could then affect other services, such as banks and hospitals, even though these were Y2K compliant.

Russia, parts of Eastern Europe and several Asian nations are the regions thought most likely to have problems with Y2K.

While a Foreign Affairs spokesman said few serious Y2K problems were expected overseas, the department has surveyed 70 countries' Y2K readiness and found that fewer than half have a "low risk of disruption".

The spokesman revealed Foreign Affairs had doubled to $300 the emergency cash it could make available to Australians who run into trouble if banking services shut down because of Y2K.

But Australia's overseas posts, while doing whatever they could to help stranded Australians, would not have the facilities to provide food, water, fuel, medicines or shelter in the event of disruptions, the spokesman said.

The department advised Australians abroad during the period to:

Register with Australian embassies or consulates;

Monitor the department's Web site, www.dfat.gov.au/consular/advice/y2k;

Make sure travel documents are up to date;

Ensure supplies of medicines and consult doctors before departure if suffering a medical condition;

Ensure travel and medical insurance covers Y2K-related problems;

Take travellers' cheques in case of bank or ATM closures;

Make sure essential possessions such as passports and medicines are in carry-on luggage on flights, in case of baggage system disruptions;

Obtain written confirmation of reservations.

The department had no estimate of how long the ramifications of any computer bug could last, saying it would depend on each country's level of preparedness.

Russia is the most susceptible destination for any Y2K glitches and the department has advised Australians "to defer non-essential travel through the Y2K rollover period until the extent of disruptions are known".

Poland is also seen as a problem area for visiting Australians: non-essential diplomatic staff are being withdrawn because of the uncertainty of power supply to heat their accommodation.

Those travelling to some of Australia's near-neighbours, Indonesia, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, were advised that water, sewerage, power, telecommunications, banking and finance and health could be interrupted.

Telecommunications, power and banking were the most likely to be affected in most of the countries analysed. Transport has also been singled out as a risk.

Even countries that would be expected to be almost completely Y2K compliant have shown some susceptibility.

Health services in the United States and Canada had a "risk of disruption", while in Turkey, Italy and Vietnam telecommunications may be affected, the department warned.

Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, Brunei, Syria, Tonga, Britain and Pacific Island countries were all deemed "low risk".

"While it is impossible to predict with any accuracy the extent of Y2K-related problems, a reasonably comprehensive picture of the state of international readiness and the potential risks is now available" the department said.

-- Homer Beanfang (Bats@inbellfry.com), December 22, 1999