per heat pipe - pretty sure thats what it is

does this thing actually do anything useful or can i just leave it not connected to anything?

also u know ur a bug freak when u pull out some nuts, bolts ball bearings and a 5/8" socket from your heater boxes and instead of asking wtf is that doin in there you ask urself wtf is a 5/8ths socket doin there should of been a 8,12, 13,15,17mm if anything

it stops your manifold iceing up.

some people block them off. as lower temps mean closer fuel molecules and therefore higher density of fuel which allows more air to be mixed and better cumbustion etc. howveer u get jerky accelleration in cool weather and its generally a bother.

i suggest u keep them.

You proberlly wont need it up in Qld especially if your near the coast, if your inland i would recomend ift for those Icy mornings to make the fuel mixture heat up and burn more efficently