Focus questions
DeQ10 Why is the British Admiralty likely to oppose the creation of an Australian navy?
DeQ11 For what reasons does Australia need a navy of its own?

CREATION OF AN AUSTRALIAN NAVY

It might be imagined that the Imperial authorities would as readily welcome the creation of an Australian naval force as the strengthening of the land forces, yet in point of fact there is likely to be discouragement from the Admiralty, which is intolerant of anything which will disturb the present system of absolute central control, and simplicity of organisation. Even in the case of a British squadron floating in Australian waters and subsidised by Australian money there has been no point of contact or of sympathy with the local defence forces. The auxiliary squadron, except for a few social functions, had been as distinctive in character as though it had belonged to some foreign Power. The continuation of such a system is repugnant to the very spirit of nationality, and tends to destroy that proud self-reliance which must be the true defence of Australia in the future as it has been of the mother country in her memorable past history. The creation of an Australian navy would in no sense mean the separation of Imperial from Australian defence, but rather the co-operation for a certain definite purpose. It may easily happen that the whole strength of the Imperial navy would be engaged in another part of the world in opposing the ships of other countries, or in protecting British commerce and at such a time it would be of extreme importance to have the Australian coastal trade protected by our own fleet from raiding cruisers.

Brisbane Courier, 21 December 1901, cited in Raymond Evans et al., 1901 Our Future's Past, Macmillan, Sydney, 1997, p. 204.