It’s not dead yet...
It’s going to keep being brought up by various people until they get the answer they want. They may never get that answer, but that just means it will keep being brought up.
Framing this as the Prime Minister’s plan is simply an attempt by the media to try and hang a ‘failure’ around his neck because they don’t like him.
While fixed wing carriers will significantly increase Australia's power projection capabilities, they are expensive to buy and operate. The Melbourne was mothballed during the height of the Cold War. Despite China's sharp elbows re its claims in the South China Sea, I don't get the impression that anyone outside of the directly affected countries views them as the threat they are. Getting this project funded might be a problem.