In one of the most stunning example of mindless petty Oz bureaucrats at work, Australia Customs have hit the crew with a $15,000 bill.
The charity group which has brought a World War II flying boat to Darwin has to pay Australian authorities $15,000 in taxes.
The Catalina arrived in Darwin late yesterday afternoon as part of its journey from Portugual to a New South Wales museum where it will be a permanent reminder of the aircraft's role in defending Australia.
About 170 Catalinas flew behind enemy lines during the war to lay mines, undertake bombing runs, and do reconnaissance against the Japanese.
Most of them were based in Northern Australia and more than 300 airmen were killed flying them.
The charity group, volunteers, and museum have spent $350,000 restoring the aircraft and bringing it from Europe to Australia.
The charity's spokesman Phillip Dulhunty says raising the funds was an epic struggle that the group only just managed.
He says he is "shocked" to find out Australian customs want $15,000.
"It's another expense we hadn't allowed for and which we haven't got," he said.
"We hope that we might apply and try and get that back, but that's a bit doubtful I'm told."
The crew plans to fly to Cairns next and visit several WWII bases before reaching the museum.
Catalina crew hit with $15k tax bill - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)