South America - 40 min transfer at GRU; transit at POA

I am planning a trip to South America for the first time in January 2011:

1) TAM8081 from JFK-GRU-GIG with a 40 minute transit at GRU - how is possible? I have read elsewhere on this forum that the incoming and outgoing aircraft would be parked in close proximity to one another but we are talking about an inbound international flight and outbound domestic flight? Any heads-up on the TAM transit process would be gratefully received.

2) Flying TAM from GIG-Porto Alegre (POA)-AEP to avoid "incoming passenger tax" at EZE as I hold an Australian passport. Could you please give me an idea what the transit and immigration process at POA would be like? Here I have 1h10m.

Thank you very much.
VH-EBA.

As to your question 1, you will probably be doing immigration and customs in GIG not GRU. So upon arrival you will go through security scanners (there could be a line) and then back to your flight for GIG. Don´t panic, you will make it. Same terminal, all very close.

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I am planning a trip to South America for the first time in January 2011:

1) TAM8081 from JFK-GRU-GIG with a 40 minute transit at GRU - how is possible? I have read elsewhere on this forum that the incoming and outgoing aircraft would be parked in close proximity to one another but we are talking about an inbound international flight and outbound domestic flight? Any heads-up on the TAM transit process would be gratefully received.

2) Flying TAM from GIG-Porto Alegre (POA)-AEP to avoid "incoming passenger tax" at EZE as I hold an Australian passport. Could you please give me an idea what the transit and immigration process at POA would be like? Here I have 1h10m.

Thank you very much.
VH-EBA.

A note of clarification. TAM flights 8xxx are always international flights. Even though you may have a change of equipment in GRU you'll still leave international and arrive in GIG as international. So you will not clear immigration or customs at GRU, both will be in GIG. Even for ostensible domestic passengers, when the TAM flight number is 8xxx you board and disembark in international terminals so pass through immigration. Your connection time will be OK because you're continuing on the 'same' flight.

If your flight number is anything else than 8xxx it is domestic so you'll clear before you board.

They do permit purely domestic passengers on these flights so some people must pass through immigration and customs on arrival and some not. It makes for an odd situation, a bit messy, but it works.

I have no idea about your question #2