I think you'll find they will convert your Australian licence. The issue is that its your NATIONAL licence they will accept.

The Qatari traffic police told me the only Gulf licences they like are the ones from UAE and Bahrain. Not that Saudi drivers have a bad reputation or anything...

"When you believe in things that you don't understand, then you suffer...Superstition ain't the way, no no no..."
Stevie Wonder.