While shipbuilders bidding to construct the submarine fleet have put the cost as low as $20 billion or less,the white paper states clearly that Defence estimates the cost of designing and constructing the fleet alone - not including sustainment - will be at least $50 billion.
Concerns about future threats of cyber attacks has been dramatically underscored by the white paper's announcement that there will be 800 new personnel committed to cyber defence and a further $300 million on cyber hardware.
And the regional instability sparked by China's rise features strongly in the government's thinking,with the white paper noting that"as China grows,it will continue to seek greater influence within the region".