Yes, Australia would be a place to be very cautious--and maybe find a hobby other than snake hunting. Figs, anyone? Just be careful where you step or put your hands....
For me, a big part of the appeal of the eastern king is the size. I grew up with California kings, and although they're beautiful, they tend to be comparatively small. This Wikipedia photo would have looked like the holy grail to me when I was younger (truth be told, it still does--although I have no desire to fuss with keeping pet snakes any more):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lampropeltis_getula
Noss, it's hard to tell from the photo, but my guess is black, although they can get a bluish tinge. Most of the snakes I've been around have quickly settled down and lost their habit of smearing stinky musk on their handler.