Being cynical here, but maybe we have to consider whether alienating the US military-industrial complex (and their coterie of owned congresspersons) by purchasing a non-US warplane would be _worse_ for Australia's long-term security than sucking it up and overspending on the F-35.
I certainly believe we'd be far more secure, with greater chances of a peaceful future, if Australia determined we needed an independent strategy, without USA war bases and without tagging along to whatever big dumb war the emperor might dream up next. Our own analysts say there is no credible threat; we're not at war now; so why aid the military empire in their unnecessary and unhelpful expansion in our region?
Australia's defence needs are the same as the UKs - you must absolutely be able to secure your shipping lanes, first and foremost. Anything else is the icing on the cake. This is something the UK has lost sight of. We need SSNs and destroyers, not white elephant aircraft carriers. And certainly not Eurofighters or F35s.
