Originally Posted by
AerialPerspective
Australia does not need aircraft carriers. The whole reason a replacement for the Sydney and Melbourne were abandoned is because in the context of our defence, aircraft carriers are a large, lumbering and easily neutralised asset - the only place they'd be used is away from home where the ability to defend them is questionable. Billions of dollars only to end up at the bottom of the sea.
Of course, some would argue that the carrier (or LHD carrying aircraft other than troop transports) defends a task group. Things like LHDs full of troops are likely to attract hostile attention - so a few aircraft capable of air defence and being able to based multiple ASW helicopters in the same ship tends to make the force more survivable.
Just saying...