The rules changed a few years ago to cut down on the re-birthing racket in Oz. NSW has the strictest rules with repairable write-offs but other states still allow you to fix them so you are both correct
I believe some prestige vehicles or high value vehicles can be registered. You will need to have receipts for parts and labour to show vehicle was repaired without stolen parts. Its been a few years since I went through the process
This has just been sold to a bloke in the Sunshine Coast, https://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Ferrari-360-2005/SSE-AD-5025388/?Cr=5
A mate checked it out - panel damage on 3 corners, structural damage on one corner. Written off in 2011, and again in 2013.. and the guy's a nuff-nuff
No problem! Apart from that (oh, and another mate noticed that it looks like the steering column has smacked the dash), it's perfect!