I'm not saying it is right, but I am suggesting it as a possible explanation as to the current naming of ships.What the?
Is joining the RAN (and ADF generally), now a popularity contest? Seriously?
Just throw history and tradition out the window to disappear like a fart in the wind?
If young people were only looking to join because of a trendy name, then that would be a very sad day indeed, ('trendy' or 'fashionable' names do exactly what those two words mean, they come, go and disappear).
I'm with Takao, in the short, but busy 100+ years of history for the RAN there has been a number of ship names that are significant (including the ones that he has mentioned), I for one would love to see those names he mentioned 'live' again.
Come up with an alternative if you will, I'm happy to dismiss my earlier explanation upon more convincing evidence.