Australia's Spruance-class idea remained a paper option

Did Australia seriously consider buying Spruance-class destroyers?

A paper appears to have discussed the option, but it was probably an abstract procurement study rather than a serious acquisition plan.

Foreign procurement studies often examine many ships that never reach a formal competition. Australia appears to have considered the Spruance class at that exploratory level. No one recalled evidence of a serious purchase effort. A surviving paper would therefore demonstrate analysis rather than commitment. The distinction matters when reconstructing procurement history from isolated proposals.