if your concern is hardware support then buying from a Linux installed company like Tuxedo is a good idea. If following from that your concern is hardware failure or part availability ask a local repair shop their opinion, they'll tell you better than us.

If you buy from buy brands, e.g. Lenovo, then in my experience checking online forums for the exact model is enough.

FWIW I'd also consider Pine64 (geographically closer to you) and a RPi5 seeing your power consumption concerns but that implies no very demanding workflows.

Dell is good for Linux (especially Latitudes and Precision models). They're also relatively reliable and build quality is great (if you ignore the stupid XPS-s).

For laptops, you have https://linux-hardware.org/. It's also better to avoid MTK network cards(many are still fine). Otherwise, I think linux support is good for mostly all hardware.

Lenovo's ThinkPads are still as good as any other models.

I run a Slimbook as an American. I chose it because it was hard to find a powerhouse laptop with ANSI keyboard layouts. The keyboard was the only reason I did not go with Tuxedo. It's fine. Not good, not great. I think my previous System76 had better integration with the hardware. However, I like the aluminum shell on the Slimbook more for daily abuse.

I did not have to pay exorbitant taxes to import. But your mileage may vary.

I've indefinitely borrowed an old underpowered Lenovo Miix from my friend which I pretty much fucked up. It used to run Windows 10 b4 I nuked it w Arch the instant I got it. it installed just fine and connected to the WiFi in the live ISO but it doesn't on baremetal. doesn't matter if I do lspci or whatever, the NIC's a bloody ghost. I've yet to figure this out but tried a remedy that failed. can't even distro hop to LMDE or downgrade to Win10. none of these ISOs even load to memory cuz it barely has any. this "laptop" even has an Arch Wiki entry. apparently the NIC works on Ubuntu but even that I can't install lol. my PC doesn't have WiFi so this' the first time I experienced the Linux WiFi NIC debacle.

regardless if you ever buy Lenovo again, please make sure to identify the NIC and that it actually works on Linux rn. don't buy one that's planned to be compatible.

I went with Laptopwithlinux for my last one, I don't remember the reason (probably the shipping too). I'm quite happy, don't recall having to do any workarounds to get my distro running.

I've also had Slimbook and Tuxedo (when I was living in the EU) and my takeaway is that no laptop is perfect. The Slimbook was great because of the aluminium case, like dialectalraveling says, but the monitor's light leakage was a bit too much for my taste (same goes for LWL). Tuxedo was great because I have never found such a great power/weight balance, but the case (magnesium I think) took very few years to start chipping. LWL feels like a reasonably priced in-between (but I miss the others' FlexiCharge, now I need to unplug the charger manually).

You could also try and find the corresponding white label model (TongFang, Clevo...), maybe some Australian company sells them without having to go through customs. Unfortunately I can't recommend Metabox though: at work I have one, the specs are good but the trackpad and the most used letters on the keyboard started "peeling"(?) after very little time of use (I swear I don't eat at my desk).