An item referred to the magazine Schiffbau dated 1 May 1938 reporting that the Australian Defence Council approved in March 1938 the new defence plans until 1941. Minister Lyons claimed to be needing 24,84 million pond sterling for the next years. Of this budget was 7,75 million to be used of buying two 7.000 ton Sydney-class cruisers from the Royal British Navy and the building of 2 gunboats and 3 coast guard vessels, 5,5 million was needed to strengthen the coastal artillery and the defence of Brisbane, New Castle and Sydney, 8,3 million to strengthen the air force and finally 2,8 million to expand the ammunition production. The before 10 years built seaplane tender Albatross was to be sold to the Royal British navy
