STOP PRESS! It took less than 12 hours for Amazon support to get back to me and now VOKHTAH is waiting to hit the Amazon lists!
If there are any other aussies having trouble with that particular part of the Account Setup form, the phone number has to be in the following format :
xx-xxx-xxxxxx
I used my mobile phone number [ditch the zero in front] and added the country code [61 for Australia] to the beginning. And it worked! Just don’t forget to put in the dashes [ '-'].
I probably won’t sleep until VOKHTAH appears so I’ll let you all know when it’s really available. 
Rant alert. 
Dear Amazon?
I know Australia is a long way away, and I know we have a small population, but we do exist you know and we do have phone numbers that are not the same as yours.
If you really want to know my phone number before you’ll let me sign up for KDP Select then could you PLEASE change your registration form so us aussies can actually fill them in? I mean I’d fudge my phone number to fit your template if I could, but I have no idea what a US phone number should look like so I’m stuck, twiddling my thumbs while I wait for someone from support to get back to me to explain how to enter my phone number in a way you’ll accept.
As for the payment options… well it’s lucky I don’t expect to make a gazillion $$ from my book, otherwise getting royalty cheques [and no, I will not write 'checks'] that take 6 weeks to clear and cost the earth in fees might also be a problem.
For now though could you please just let me publish this damn book of mine?
Yours truly,
Meeks
Authors' favourite books
NANO 2012
January 14th, 2013 at 11:35 pm
Phone number template, in case you want to fudge it is (123) 444-5555. You don’t have to use the symbols, just ten digits. It may not make you feel any better, but I have my own issues with Amazon. They have crap for customer service. So, be prepared.
January 15th, 2013 at 1:23 pm
AAAAh Thanks Honie! But what issues have you had with them? I’ve only sent off one or two support tickets but they were pretty good with both.
January 15th, 2013 at 1:57 pm
It’s really my issue, I like to speak to a real person and they only do email support. It takes days to get a response beyond the original automated “we’ll get back to you” email.
Sales weren’t showing even though I knew for a fact that several copies had been downloaded by people who sent emails saying they’d started reading it. We only make pennies a copy anyway, so isn’t about the money, I just think there should be an accurate record of sales since I’ll have to pay taxes on each one. That plus my title wasn’t showing up as available in both print and Kindle version, then it was, then it wasn’t again. Minor stuff like that.
January 15th, 2013 at 4:15 pm
Ouch.
I can see why you’d be less than impressed.
January 15th, 2013 at 12:10 am
Argh! I know what you mean. when I buy something online (I do it so rarely) it is like no-one can cope with there being non-US places! Grrrrr…… phone number, state, zip code! Fer gawds sakes!!
January 15th, 2013 at 1:21 pm
Yup.
I love being an aussie and I wouldn’t live anywhere else but gee… it’d be so nice not to be an international second class citizen all the time.
January 15th, 2013 at 1:56 am
You’re publishing your book? Awesome! Keep trucking!
January 15th, 2013 at 1:20 pm
Thank you.
Oh and btw – I really enjoyed your Canadica post. So funny. 
January 15th, 2013 at 2:20 pm
Thanks!
January 15th, 2013 at 3:03 am
Amazon should WANT you Aussie reader/writers and make it easy.
January 15th, 2013 at 1:19 pm
We’re a drop in the ocean, unfortunately.
January 15th, 2013 at 4:25 am
Okay Amazon you heard the lady….let her publish the book…. Go meeka
Checks and cheques. …hahaha. …I know that gets on my nerves too
January 15th, 2013 at 1:18 pm
lol – every time I read ‘checks’ I immediately picture a red and white check tablecloth!
January 15th, 2013 at 10:16 am
WHY DO USA INSIST ON 17TH CENTURY CHEQUES!?
Sorry. I almost ranted. I got a payment once for 30 dollars, in check. My bank wanted $50 to cash it… because it’s so outdated and cumbersome that they had to send it to the USA to clear it manually.
January 15th, 2013 at 1:13 pm
Yup.
That’s why I’m almost glad my first book probably /won’t/ sell. I came across something called Payoneer that ‘may’ be a solution of sorts but…not being American has some serious financial disadvantages.