What does a high Australian dollar mean for people who don't want to go overseas?

Buying $1.08 US today which is great for travelling no doubt, but what about people who want to stay put? Our retail prices don't drop to coincide with the wholesale prices that companies pay to import. It seems to me that major retail outlets are the only ones benefiting. An Apple iPad in the US starts at $499USD, an iPad here starts at $579AUD or $623.58USD. Both are manufactured in the same place overseas and shipped out yet the price difference is staggering. To me this just encourages people to buy online and import thus sending our money overseas. I bought a pair of cycling shoes from the UK for $90 delivered, the same shoes in stores here are $160, with a saving like that why would I bother to support our economy? Times me by 22 million people and that's alot of money going overseas.. I'm baffled someone please enlighten me to the benefit of this.