Australia didn't look at Gripen

No kidding. The entrenched defence bureaucracy didn't look at the Gripen

Journalist can't even get the story right.

The Saab Gripen is a single engine, two-crew, multi-role fighter made in Sweden and according to the builder it costs about $US7000 an hour to run compared to $US11,000 for the Boeing Super Hornet operated by the Royal Australian Air Force and $21,000 an hour for the next generation JSF.

First, there is no known reality where an F-35 will cost $21,000 per hour. Disclosure: the "journalist" is a known ADF copy-paster.

Super Hornet cost per flying hour for Australia is $23,130 (Source 2012-13 PBS (ADF budget))

Own...and..operate costs (everything) of the a Gripen for Australia would be about $12,000~$14,000 per hour.

With near 100 percent offsets.