In Reply to: And the rest of the world has only posted by dmt on Saturday, 1. September 2012 at 19:27 Bali Time:
of the "over Zeus Australian Customs employees".
The initiative is from the Treasury Department and was announced in the budget delivered earlier in the year. There have been numerous advertising campaigns, flyers on the outwards Immigration point etc etc.
If you think about the changes its basically allowing people to carry cigarettes or tobacco for a personal use level, eg 50 sticks/ 50 grams.
The government doesn't want cartons of gaspers being brought into the country where no duty or tax is paid on it, they want you to go to a shop that has incorporated these government monies into the sale, or pay the duty at the airport so that they make the $$$$$$$.
It all comes down to money.
As for Customs officers and the extra paperwork, I can promise you that the paper work is minimal and the process of taking your cancer sticks is a piece of cake :)