Jack,
It's late in the day so I'm not sure if you're having a dig or not.
I think Kharon gets my point - one sees militaries from other nations getting involved in searches; the RAN and RAAF go after stranded yachties (amongst other tasks).
Recovering a CVR / FDR could be, if this thread is to be believed, something which actually does go to the national interest - aviation safety - and hence a reasonable task for the ADF.
My line about sticking it through the training budget is simply to say, as Kharon has, that if the Russell bean-counters wouldn't pass it as an operational cost, then maybe it could be seen as real-life training. Just as when Bullimore and Dubois were rescued and the then Defence Minister, Ian McLachlan, brushed aside questions of cost by saying it was excellent practical training.
Reply over, back to topic.