Ramesh;2643737; said:The reason many fish species are expensive here is because of our very stringent quarantine laws which can drive up the price and cost of importing or smuggling exotic animals into the country.
The reason for these measures is because Australia has a very unique and special environment that is kome to many endemic species that have evolved here in isolatation for thousands of years. This has made them vulnerable to exotic species that can introduce new diseases or simply out compete them for often scarce resources.
Your are dead right about many fish being over priced especially common varities and many Natives also but this could be due to a much smaller population and thus market size but I do double take at the prices I often see of what I would call 'feeder fish' or a 'dime a dozen' varities.
Ramesh already answered your question already...