Widger,
The loss of the carriers was a cost saving measure resulting from the withdrawal from East of Suez, itself done to try and solve a massive financial problem, as was the axing of the TSR-2, P1154 and HS681, then the F-111K.
The alleged “moving” of Australia was an RAF attempt to protect the F-111K force when a compromise attempt to retain a UK presence in Australia and on island bases was half heartedly attempted around the time of the devaluation of the pound, which was the final nail in the financial coffin.
Agree on CVF, if it happens it will be a genuine joint asset providing deep strike capability and a future AD capability if that ever proves to be needed in some far off future scenario.