Amazon has reopened its global website to Australian consumers just in time for Black Friday sales. The giant online retailer closed the global store to Australians in July after the federal government introduced changes to the GST — known colloquially as the “Amazon tax.”
It placed the 10 percent tax on all low-value overseas purchases and businesses with a turnover of more than $75,000.
The company had faced a backlash because Australian shoppers were unable to access the larger range and cheaper prices available on the international website. There are about 80 million products on the Australian store, compared to 500 million on the U.S. site.
Amazon said the initial move to close the global store to Australians was difficult, nut necessary “in order to remain compliant with the legislation.”
But an Amazon spokesman said the company had “listened to the customer feedback” in reopening the global store, so on Wednesday night, after bowing to pressure from local shoppers and Scott Morrison, who had slammed the retailer for deciding to “take their bat and ball and go home,” “Amazon customers will be able to ship eligible items from amazon.com to Australian delivery addresses,” the spokesman said.
However, the new rules will apply only to products that Amazon stocks and sells itself. Products from third-party sellers using Amazon’s marketplace will remain blocked while the company works out how to apply GST to the sales.
By: Maytinee Kramer
