I'm pretty sure the guvmint has a threshold before taxes are due. I bought a plotter/sounder combo from the States a while ago and no taxes were paid. Just think about how often you're bent over at tax time and call this one a win!.

 The old $1000 threshold is gone. Expect a notice from Auspost or whichever logistics provider you are using. If the parcel doesn't have a value listed on the outside it might just slip through.

Used to be no GST payble on imports worth less than $1000. However, after lobbying from Australian retailers, led by Gerry Harvey from Harvey Norman, the exemption was supposedly ended. Coalition and Labor agreed to a plan to apply the GST to imported products worth less than $1,000 from July 1, 2018. 

So, in theory GST is payable, but I've done a few small orders from Japan each year, often <$100, and they just turn up.  Maybe the seller pays at their end or the Customs people here just don't bother for small amounts. It is what it is and paying the GST is not big deal, if that is the law, but one side effect has been that some overeas online retailers no longer send orders to Australia, presumably because the amount of trade  to customers ordering from Australia was low and  doing the extra paperwork to incl;due a GST component was not worth it.

 The value is just under $1,000 and GST will be payable if things go according to the to rules I will send an update when I recieve my goods.

I need to buy certain things from OS for my business. 

It is a very dodgy area, larger sellers like ebay or aliexpress etc have arrangements with the ATO and process the GST. Seemingly though they take the GST on the purchase price from us the purchaser and then declare a much lower price on the import. I have raised this with minister involved, Look at the commercial invoice or declare value on the parcel when they arrive !

Smaller sellers just mark them as gift or a very low value and don't do the GST. 

It seems to me imported stuff with a low marked price and no arrangement with the ATO come in no questions asked. Over $1000 and they still hit you up and likely with extra fee's and some items import duties as well so can get very expensive. A lot of sellers will offer to 'doctor' the price for you as well to avoid this.

 I bought a sounder and transducer set up from marine deals in NZ as it was over $600 cheaper than the same in Aust and paid no GST on nearly 3K.

Have it sent thru Fedex and not Aust Post. 

 Package turned up today 7 days from Japan and here I am I have been waiting 15 days for something to be delivered from Sydney (go figure)

I purchased 2 Shimano electric reels from Asian Portal Fishing and saved $1,000.00 compared to buying them in Australia. I do try to support local suppliers when possible but this was too good to pass up.

As far as my original question about customs and GST the parcel arrived at my door free postage with no request for further payment.