here is a good link for costs of importing:
http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4368.asp#ImportEntryCosts

Australia has a free trade agreement with the US so if you clearly states on the invoice and possibly the box that the product is US made it gets rid of a Duty's Tax for Aussies

from what I understand from US to Aus over $1000 and from personal experience of importing my first pin (mid 2010) before knowing about pin forums etc - and being very naive. I am sure when guys bring in a container and have their owner freight forwarders there are costs to be saved. I got burnt big time and could not be bothered in the future. This is what I copped so maybe learn from my mistake.

Game and Freight
- cost of game
- cost of freight (sea for me)
- freight insurance (about $3.50 per $100) - optional

Aus Port
- Aus Port Charges (% based on the volume of the crate - mine was $115 cubic metre)
- Terminal Handling Charge (% based on the volume of the crate - mine was $28 cubic metre)
- Delivery Order Fee (set fee)
- Sea Cargo Compliance Fee (set fee)
- CMR Compliance Fee (set fee)
- Import Processing Fee (set fee)
- Handling Fee (set fee)
- Terminal Security Fee (set fee)

Aus Broker
- Duty, GST & Customs - variable based on the Aus value of machine and freight - which included a gambling tax (coin operated mech)
- Quarantine Charges
- Aqis CMR Compliance Fee (set fee of approx $28)
- ACS CMR compliance Fee (set fee of approx $28)
- Cartage LCL
- Fuel Surcharge on Cartage
- Quaratine Attendance
- Agency Attendance (set fee of approx $165)

hope that helps

This is gob-smacking. A good broker should be able to minimise or get rid of a large portion of these charges (some of which I believe to be fictitious). The Aus-US FTA is a bit misleading  - it means sometimes there is preferential duty but usually not zero duty.  There are ways around duty but some aren't exactly legal.