[azstar]

Originally Posted by Captain Obvious

It is clear that it takes many days to obtain the necessary visa, your own statements provide the evidence.

Under normal circumstances the Australian ETA takes minutes. It is entered into the computer and approved instantly. This sounds like a failure on the Australian Government's part, unless there was a reason to deny approving the visa. Most airlines, however, will make accommodations for such situations and will allow travel at a later time without charging enormous change fees and penalties.