Chapter 663: Year-end

In the end, the shipbuilding plan that included two battleships and nine aircraft carriers was approved.

After all, 50 million Australian dollars was not a significant expense for the current government, and with the cost to be spread over two to three years, it was even less of an issue.

If this could further strengthen the nation's naval power, such a transaction was definitely worth it, and the Cabinet Ministers would not be unreasonable.

Minister Melon was worried about cuts to the budget of his Public Security Department, but once Arthur indicated that the funds for shipbuilding would be drawn directly from the national treasury and not reallocated from other departmental fiscal budgets, Minister Melon no longer objected.

With the addition of these two battleships and nine aircraft carriers, Australasia's naval power could take another step up, becoming the third-strongest navy in the world, behind only the UK and US.