VAT really shouldn't be a surprise, since it's something you generally pay all the time - granted, the entire EU changed the import system on the 1st of July, the threshold is now $0, which means you pay VAT on all items you import, and you now pay it at the point of sale instead of when it arrives in your country; there will be no additional fees or taxes to pay on goods where VAT is charged up front, unless the seller has not filled out the customs declaration correctly ( also, unless the goods are valued โฌ150 or more, in which case it reverts to the old way and you pay VAT, and any other import costs, when it arrives over there rather than when you buy the item).
If you are looking at items specifically from Australian sellers, yes, our postage costs can be a little on the high side compared to buying from other countries. There isn't much we can do about that, and this post will do even less - we complain to Australia Post all time, generally all we get are more price rises. ยฏ\_(ใ)_/ยฏ
