Jeez i'm getting sick of eating all this popcorn lawl.
Just to put a small point in here. It is certainly 'common' knowledge that what nismoid is referring to re: the pointlessness of trying to do it legally. I have several _real_ friends who have attempted the engineer option and have then been defected for those very items. It definitely does happen in Victoria (I don't know about NSW) and has been happening for longer than 6 years. The police are, to the best of my knowledge, very aware of this. One particular member of the force being well known by almost all imported car owners in Victoria, for his brag (and it's accurate) that he can defect any car he wants to. I have also heard from a variety of sources (professional and amateur) exactly what nismoid is refering to re: ADR, that the process is nigh on impossible to complete in Victoria regardless of what the documents say.
I also want to agree that the enthusiasts who remain interested in 'imported' cars in the LONG TERM have simply taken the approach of making modifications to the car in a manor which is low key. Victorian police have been known to say things such as 'oh good you have made an effort to do things properly'. Practical personal experience. I have never been defected even though I drive a car with several 'illegal' modifications and have been pulled over numerous times. That isn't to say i'm not prepared in the future to clear a defect if one does get issued... essentially this is the way we play in Victoria for right or wrong. You can try and fight it, and many people have.. and I personally wish you support and the best of luck. Everyone I know who took that path went on to other things soon after .
This isn't to say I agree with Nismoid's arguments in their entirety but that I completely agree with the spirit of message he is trying to provide to someone asking a fairly simple and blunt question about _avoiding_ future defects.