Australia

Thanks Mountaineer.

The doublespeak of EULAs and business PR statements terrifies me, it's like a legal language but it's intentionally designed to misinform the average Joe. I'm a bit sad that I didn't get to use all of these examples here.

When a company says they "respect" their users then it means "we really want to retain them but we're scared they might realise we're evil, so lets play the opposite character". I think Optus recently said that giving free data would be more respectful than other options -- it also turns out to be basically free for them to do so (their mobile broadband service will be a bit lower quality due to the higher load and maybe they'll have to pay a little bit more for transit, but I doubt it's much).

"We may share your data with third parties" means "we will share your data with third parties (constantly, because selling your information is our main business model)". It's dishonest but they love using it because at a casual glance the "may" makes this sentence seem unimportant. Just like how a computer repair guy "may see" your data whilst doing their job, but they are a professional and won't mention or share anything.

"User security" is often stated as the motivation for some unpopular move, but what they really mean is "our financial security". Just mentally substitute those words in every time a big company talks about security. It's never about the users.

And finally: "meet the specific needs of our individual customers" means "trick the customer into thinking they don't need something, so later we can rort them for it (or not have to provide it) when they realise they do need it". Insurance companies that let you play roulette with "only pay for the services you need". Man I better plan ahead for that bung leg in 2025.

The government should provide a website to compare all of the passport providers

Especially this bit. Like, somehow, a comparison website is meant to make all the difference for shitty government decisions to sell off public services & utilities in the first place.

technically you could probably get away without those either. I'm actually unsure of the law there but I'm not sure its compulsory to own one of those IDs? would make buying booze hard though without if your younger

Much of that cost is third party insurance, though. If you are in an accident and someone is hurt, the government will cover their rehabilitation. Or yours, I guess if you are the one hurt.

I expect that much of the cost of a passport funds the embassies and consulates around the world. At least in theory.

That's largely because the states handle both transport and policing.

And we don't pay taxes directly to the state governments - only stamp duties. /s