Bah, the truth is not nearly as interesting:
Folder Contents
See "
PM confirms request on arms intercept".
Seems Sandline had the An-124 sitting in Thailand racking up lease fees by the day. As the issue had blown up PNG were unwilling to let the aircraft land in PNG for fear the military would use the equipment for a coup. Howard intervened and accepted to "hold" the kit at Tindal until it could be sorted out.
Seems the closest thing to real action was two hornets sitting ready at Tindal in case of "emergencies".