Trojan, take a look at a map of Northern Australia and after seeing the distances involved, maybe you'll reconsider your rather dismissive observation.
I have flown over much of it in both RAAF and civil A/C over the years. I know we need tankers and we'll still have them. I don't think this is much of an issue. At least the press and other government staff will be much safer flying on an RAAF A/C (although they could probably get the same result chartering Aus-reg civil A/C).
I can think of many other areas where defence money is wasted on pointless ventures and unnecessary capabilities.