You're right about one thing Paul, we don't need anything this big. Sir Francis Drake taught us long ago, that Spanish ships are big & look great, but aren't fit for purpose. We do need something fairly large however, as they must be able to carry landing craft capable of carrying a couple of large heavily laden trucks, [or a tank], & a few helicopters.

A bigger problem is we need enough well trained stokers, [navy for mechanic these days] so we can actually run the damn things reliably, & engineering officers capable of understanding the things well enough to develop & oversee maintenance schedules that will keep them running.

I was shocked to learn Australia does not possess one decent battleship, not one, not even one of those you can put in your pocket, a pocket battleship. Yet we have our very own admiral, but do not possess one lousy WWII, or even WWI, surplus battleship to lead the fleet, with our very own admiral, Admiral Brassbottom on the poop deck! How can our navy be expected to take on the might of the Pacific fleet of that aggressive expansionists nation of Tuvalu, war canoes and all, without a decent battleship? Is our navy expected to put to sea in rubber dinghies and floaties? I ask you!

Hasbeen, the RAN's Landing Helicopter Doc (LHD) ships were purchased from Spain to replace two Newport class tank landing ships second hand from the US. The US ships were found to be riddled with rust, they required extensive remediation and modifications lasting four years.

The US does not have any new ships comparable to the Spanish LHDs. The US America-class amphibious assault ships are about twice the size and cost US$3.4B each.

The new RAN ships are designed for amphibious operations in the waters around Australia, deploying helicopters and landing craft. But they also have a ski-jump flight deck and could operate F-35B jets, making them mini-aircraft carriers: http://blog.tomw.net.au/search/label/Canberra%20Class%20Ship

What was wrong with building suitable ships in Australia?

Come on Tomw, I know one of the men responsible for much of the multimillion refit at New Castle on one of them. Apart from one slightly dicky gearbox, he found the ship in remarkably good condition.

Perhaps you could explain why they spent 10s of million on her, if she was full of rust. They were much more use than these two.

Is Mise, build here? Just think subs.

Has been build here. Can we do any worse than buying from countries that would not give their best away..
Abbott,s attempt at making himself a super sized runt first signing a blank piece of paper for a road in vic, that was already said to be not on. Then buying an airplane that has never got of the ground. What are we employing to look after our interests. Self indulgent soles are.