Out of the fellow Australians, has anyone here been hassled? I'd be curious to hear of any real world examples.
Surprisingly, I actually haven't. A photographer I worked with on a couple of occasions, however, has. I remember a couple of occassions she commented on a some of my photo's saying "How long ago was that taken?" "...a month or so..." "Really, how'd you get that? I have tried to take that photo at leats half a dozen times, and always been asked to move on by security, I didn't think
anyone was allowed to photograph there anymore!"
...that made me think, and I noted a couple of differences between the two of us: she likes to 'dress up' in all the gear (obvious photo backpack, sling bag, SUPER wide brand name camera straps, those big bulky tripod covers... etc etc), whereas I don't. She's one of these people who got into photography from the lure of fame and fortune, and so loves being noticed... I hate attention (yes, I like for my birthday to slip into oblivion each year... my ideal 'party' is my dog and myself having a play on the beach). I think maybe (and maybe this is all just fluff, and airy fairy psychology) the way you see yourself, is the way you portray yourself, and therefore, is the way others (including 'authority') percieve you. If you don't take yourself too seriously, other people mightn't either.
...like I said, might all be just head-fluff after a long day, but I think it kinda makes a bit of sense. Another thought, if ther eis a law out there banning 'commercial photographers' from photographing places (and these would, usually, be indentifiable by, ummm... not always a Press tag in their hat, maybe business cards? I don't know, who draws the distinction?), maybe we should start an 'ammeture photographers guild', where everyone is issued a membership card, with photographic identification stating that they are
not a professional photographer. Actually, with cameras of some sort being so commonplace these days, perhaps these cards should be issued at birth, and revoked when someone picks up a paying gig?

...just saying...