Is it legal to use handheld radios to listen to airport frequencies in Australia? I am a student pilot at ABX (YMAY) in Australia. It is a single engine aerodrome with three frequencies:


123.25;
125.80; and 
the ATIS frequency


I live very close to the airport, directly under the base/final turn. Would I be able to purchase a handheld radio that I could use to listen to the ATC and practise my radio calls? Is it legal?
An Aeronautical License issued by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is required in order to operate a handheld aviation-band VHF transceiver in Australia.


  An aeronautical licence is issued to authorise a station that:
  
  
  is not fixed to an aircraft; 
  is operated on aeronautical frequencies;
  is operated for purposes relating to the operation of an aircraft, or
  airport or aerodrome operations; and 
  in relation to an aircraft
  includes a mobile station operated on board the aircraft or on the
  ground in communication with aircraft. 
  
  
  An aeronautical licence is
  necessary to authorise the operation of stations providing:
  
  
  air traffic control services; 
  aerodrome radio information services;
  private company radiocommunications; and 
  other airport or aerodrome
  services.
  


Reference: ACMA

The Australian-based recreationalflying.com tutorial website may also provide more useful information.

(Note: This applies for a transceiver -- i.e. transmit &amp; receive -- rules may be different for receive-only).