Heh.  Found this on the BBC site this morning:

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Security guards at Australia's parliament can continue addressing politicians and visitors as "mate", after a ban on the term was reversed.

After a complaint from a civil servant about informality, guards were told to address everyone as "sir" or "madam".

But Prime Minister John Howard said barring the classic Australian greeting was "absurd and ridiculous".

With many of his mates in Canberra also up in arms, the official edict was overturned within 24 hours.

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Can you imagine the security at Westminster calling the PM 'Mate'?  Just wouldn't happen!  Australians are cool...