Copyright law in Australia is a quite simple - yet extremely complex thing.
The very second you produce a work you own the copyright - do not need to register it. You just need proof that you did the work originally. It does NOT matter that your art has appeared on the net or elsewhere. Unauthorised reproduction is THEFT, it is NO different to someone walking into the Louvre, taking down the Mona Lisa, and claiming it as their own.
Registration does however make it easier to claim against those that use your artwork without authorisation. A copyright is said to be breached if to the average viewer the work has been reproduced without significant alterations in such a way that would rob the original atrist of possible renumeration (credit / sales etc)
Copyright law allows for alteration of a preset image to allow for 'parody' or reproduction in media for 'editorial, or discussion purposes.
In the above case - I think that you would have a pretty good case against him. It really depends upon what you want to do. Have you, or your representative (You're better off speaking to a specialist about this first) contacted him about it, asking him to cease & desist, or return you credit / payments for reproducing your work?
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