Yeh they wanted this bit of paper... then next day another and each day i would ask if i would then have everything in order and the answer was always YES.. next day another.. next day another etc and so it went on... absolute deliberate run around made to make my importation impossible... My impression was that its a " closed shop" system and if you aint in it.. then they make it impossible to navigate around

That's the "usual" experience with Customs, and that's where you lose all the money you "saved" by not using a Freight Forwarder.

In the 90's, I used to work under contract to all the Victorian Freight Forwarders and Customs Agents as an IT Technician. So I'm aware of the pitfalls back then. Industry people I know tell me it is FAR worse these days, and it became very difficult after September 11 2001.

One thing to keep in mind. Customs DON'T import, or organize to import anything from overseas. They inspect, assess and CLEAR items into the country. You can't go to AQIS or Customs and ask "how do I import A pinball". They DON'T do that. They advise in CLEARING the pinball. They might point you to a process, but they won't engage with the exporter or the shipper. If the importer has already organized the export and shipment and then the item lands in Australia, you will receive a call either from customs, or a Freight Forwarder or Customs agent will ask "Do you want to CLEAR the item through Customs YOURSELF, or use a Customs Agent".

I recall 30 years ago that my Father imported arcade boards from the USA WITHOUT using his Freight Forwarder. These boards were held in bond for more than 6 months while custom "processed" the paperwork. Customs started charging "storage fees", and then when they were eventually cleared, they were abandoned. This was all because of a mistake in the paperwork that customs put in the "too hard" basket. Yes - he saved money, but lost the boards.