Thanks aF,
I spent a lot of time reading all the material, and it appears
Part 61 does not even mention "initial issue".
It refers to a test, and an IPC.
The test apparently must be in an aircraft.
If an IPC is done overseas, they insist on an Australian Oral to go along with
it and the simulators on the surface are just the big jets.
Then it refers to simulators approved by other countries that indicates that if you give them a heads up by 10 days, for approval, then you "might" be able to do it overseas.
I'm missing the list of questions that can be asked on "an instrument flight test" which I believe means "an initial IFR flight test"
and the list of questions for an IPC.
A hell of a lot of study for a simple question.