Add CategoryActing Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has unceremoniously told Emmanuel Macron to “get over” his disappointment over a scrapped submarine deal as the relationship between France and Australia continues to sour.
In a major escalation on Monday, the French President told Australian reporters he “knew” Scott Morrison lied to him over the decision to jump ship and sign a nuclear submarine deal with the UK and US.
“I have a lot of respect for your country, a lot of respect and friendship for your people. I just say when we have respect, you have to be true and you have to behave in line and consistent with this value,” Mr Macron said.
Mr Morrison strongly denied that he lied to Mr Macron: “I don’t agree with that”.
Asked about the diplomatic deep freeze, Mr Joyce said he backed in his boss, insisting it was time Mr Macron moved on.
“We didn’t steal an island, we didn’t deface the Eiffel Tower. It was a contract,” Mr Joyce said.
“And contracts have terms and conditions and one of those terms and conditions and propositions is that you might get out of the contract.
“I hope that President Macron understands that ultimately, Australia and France have got so much more in common and so much into the future than a contract which is now in the past.
“And you know, understand the sentiment. I understand the views of the French people, and I’m certain that with time, like all things, we can get over this and move on.”
Earlier, Mr Morrison told reporters that he explained to Mr Macron “very clearly” during a private dinner in June that the conventional submarines ordered from France were not going to meet Australia’s needs.
“I‘ve been very clear about the way I’ve communicated about this. We had dinner together … I explained very clearly that the conventional submarine option was not going to meet Australia’s interests,” he told reporters in Rome.
The French President said under the original deal, Australia would have been able to produce a conventional submarine with a “clear and reliable time”.
“Now, you have 18 months before a report. Good luck,” Mr Macron said
His stunning accusation comes just days after he told Mr Morrison that he had broken the trust between the two nations.
The fracas is just another headache for Mr Morrison who is on his way to Glasgow ahead of a major climate summit.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said the criticism proved Mr Morrison “can’t be trusted”.
“It’s important that Australians have a leader on the world stage who is trusted,” he said.