Mine is a '89 and in January 2019, I was able to re-register the car without a compliance plate after it had been off the road for over 2 years in Dandenong. Victoria. I did initially have an issue with the roadworthy because of the lack of a compliance plate but after I contacted VicRoads, they said it wasn't an issue because it had previously been registered in Victoria. Once I sorted that out with the roadworthy guy, I was able to take it into VicRoads and I paid my fee and they issued my plates. They didn't even look at the car. I was in and out of VicRoads within 15 minutes.
Yes cars with a record of registration do not need compliance plates. Also, yours would have come in to Aus under the old 15 year old import rule which is now finally replaced by the 25 year old import rule. Cars coming in under these schemes DID NOT have compliance plates nor do you need one as long as the car has been registered with a paper trail.
