Does that mean you can't get a SR20DE engineered over there?

It's a shame all states can't just be the same.
If a car is engineered and registered in one state, I feel it should be recognised in another state.
The engineer that signed off on it still did his / her degree that is recognised Australia wide.

If they would recognise the rego / engineers for the DE engine. You could put the origional DE stuff back on for the transfer, then put the turbo back on later - (not that I would encorage anything shifty) .