Strategy to win hearts and minds cautiously received Defence white papers only come along every few years and Friday's - just the second since 2000 - was pitched carefully to a domestic as well as an international audience. Asked about the submarine program, for instance, Prime Minister Julia Gillard's first observation was that the strategy document contained "good news for South Australia [because] South Australia is where our submarine work is focused." Unions and Australian industry groups were cautiously welcoming of the white paper's commitment to strengthening local naval ship-building - even if many details were yet to be fleshed out. Paul Bastian, national secretary of key shipbuilding union the AMWU, says his members have been lobbying for a building program that would even out the peaks and troughs between vessel orders, and avoid a looming "valley of death" for some parts of the industry. "There is a unique opportunity here ... to create jobs and sustain an industry for almost 100 years when you talk about the construction of 47 vessels, and maintaining, replacing, and upgrading them," he said. Among the key industry decisions are: ■Retaining the 2009 commitment to acquiring 12 new submarines (up from six). ■Building the submarines here, using a local or new design and not an off-the-shelf one from overseas. ■ Bringing forward replacement of the battered Armidale-class patrol boats. ■ Diverting more work on the Air Warfare Destroyer Program to Williamstown. ■ A commitment to replace "at the earliest opportunity" the two ageing supply and replenishment ships. ■ The $1.5 billion purchase of 12 more Boeing Super Hornets with Growler electronic warfare technology. The Australian Industry Group said the white paper package would give the local defence industry "a degree of assurance about its long-term survival." Defence Minister Stephen Smith said the May budget would not reduce defence spending, and said Labor would continue to provide the Australian Defence Force with more than $100 billion in the forward estimate years. Opposition defence spokesman David Johnston attacked the lack of information about costs and schedules. An extra $25 million for mental health care for returning soldiers will also play well, given emerging problems among Afghanistan veterans.