Australian carrier aviation and defensive depth

Defensive depth connects the argument for Australian carrier aviation with the later Collins-class and AUKUS debates. Australia has too much coastline and airspace for its population to defend every approach equally. Forces operating farther from shore can influence a smaller area through which a threat must pass. The argument for carriers therefore concerns where Australia can shape a conflict as well as the aircraft carried. Other spending priorities prevailed when the case for retaining carrier aviation was lost.