I am the first person to admit that a certain number of my fellow Australians make complete pelicans of themselves when they travel abroad; anyone who has encountered groups of young Australians while travelling in places like Bali will no doubt agree with me.

But the arrogance displayed by some British expat’s when they are away ’playing’ in foreign countries is mind boggling. Ask the Spanish and Portuguese what their opinion of the British tourist is and you will treated to the description of ” drunken, promiscuous yobs “ in either Spanish or Portuguese.

But it is the recent case of Michelle Palmer that makes you marvel at the double-whoppers these people have instead of brains.

Anyone travelling to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates knows that this is a brilliant holiday destination and one which I intend to visit sometime in the hopefully near future. But it is also well known that Dubai is a Muslim country with very strict laws regarding public behaviour, consumption of alcohol and decency in general – three things many British tourists have severe problems with at the best of times.

Public displays of affection are not allowed; women must wear modest clothing; sex between unmarried people is illegal ( tough luck however long you have been with your boyfriend ), as is homosexuality, and you will go to jail for a very long time if caught ‘at it’.

Well, Ms Palmer and a male friend were caught ‘at it’ on a public beach. They were found and cautioned by a policeman and as soon as his back was turned they were ‘at it’ again. This time when found again they were both arrested and Ms Palmer now faces a lengthy jail term in Dubai.

This female has been living and working in Dubai for three years. She knew the rules and yet flouted them – and in a rather disgusting manner with it.  If there is one country where you must read up on the local rules and customs it is Dubai. Forget about the lenient laws back in the UK; forget about the appalling manner in which other British tourists behave in places like Ibiza; forget about the non-existant decency laws in the UK today which permit public fornication and drunk public behaviour. Because you are in Dubai you idiot!

Maybe Australia and the United Kingdom could take a leaf out of Dubai’s book and introduce some common decency laws of their own – and enforce them just as they do in Dubai.  But failing that, if you are travelling in another culture in another country remember; you break their laws, you cop their punishment. And don’t whinge about it.