At the 1911 Imperial Conference Australia expressed concern about Japan 's growing naval power and it was agreed that the British government would consult Australia when negotiating renewal of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance . It was also decided that the Royal Navy would continue to support the RAN and provide blue-water defence capability in the Pacific and that if there was war the ships of the RAN would be transferred to British Admiralty control . Under the '' Naval Defence Act '' ( 1912 ) the power to make the transfer was conferred in the Governor-General . The RAN would become the Australia Squadron of the Royal Navy with all ships and personnel under the direct control of the British Admiralty , while the RAN remained responsible for the upkeep of the ships and training
1911 Imperial Conference
1911 Imperial Conference
History of the Royal Australian Navy