The US badly needs to expand the infrastructure supporting their Navy - especially the submarine force. As the article states, they expect Australia to financially contribute to setting up this infrastructure to increase the rate of submarine construction. This would have more benefit for the USN than the RAN.
My view is that the money needs to be used setting up the infrastructure in Australia to have control of the construction as well as ongoing maintenance of the submarine fleet, it will have the most benefit throughout the life of the vessels as well as allowing the money to circulate within our economy. This may mean a delay in introducing SSN’s into the RAN but the ongoing benefits are worth it. The post LOTE Collins boats would have to remain in service for their full hull life.