Hi Rod and Group,
Yes, I think Australia has a more friendly import scheme than does the EU
If I purchase something from outside the EU (eg China) and the landed value including postage cost is more than €25,- I then have to pay the government €10 processing fee plus 20% tax on the value of the goods plus the value of the postage,
And to add insult we do not see the goods until all of that is levied and paid, We get a letter telling us what is what and then we have to pay it, Finally then the Customs office send you the goods. But often they don't trust us so they want us to send them a copy of our bank statement and whatever to prove that we are not understating the value to reduce the amount we need to pay. Which all puts another week or two on the delivery time.