I'm not in Austrailia but thought I'd put my 2 cents in anywyas.

My water actually broke while I was at the hospital getting checked (40 hours after the onset of my contractions). I was only 2 cm so they were going to send me home, but since there was mecconium in the amniotic fluid they wanted to admit me instead. If the fluid had been clear they likely would have sent me home until things had progressed a bit. I was told in my prenatal class though that if my water broke at home I should either call the hospital and let them know or go in and get checked and see how they would like to proceed.