Facing multiple accusations of lying, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he is not dishonest, and the criticism he has copped is simply part of the job.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Photo:
Earlier this month French President Emmanuel Macron said Morrison had lied to him over his plans to scrap a $90 billion French submarine contract and had broken the trust between the two countries.
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, who appointed Morrison as his treasurer, then accused Morrison of being deceitful to him while he was in the top job, saying he had "a reputation for lying".
And following the government's recent policy U-turn on electric vehicles, Morrison was also challenged for saying he never opposed electric vehicles at the 2019 election. At the time he said they would "end the weekend".
Morrison was grilled on Melbourne local radio station 3AW over the recent accusations.
Neil Mitchell: "Have you ever told a lie in public life?"
Scott Morrison: "I don't believe I have no, no."
Neil Mitchell: "How does it feel when a former mate, Malcolm Turnbull, calls you a serial liar?"
Scott Morrison: "Look, I mean, it's politics. People take sledges at me all the time … I've learned in public life over a long period of time to not have a thin skin, to not get bitter."
Morrison said public life required a thick skin, and politicians must be prepared to receive "slings and arrows" or get out of the job.
The prime minister also said he had not spoken to Turnbull since he was accused of being a liar, and he did not want to.
Following the 3AW interview, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce defended Morrison, saying he was reflecting on Macron's accusation and it was a "fair statement".
But when asked if he had ever lied in public life, Joyce was more frank.
"Um, probably," Joyce responded.
"If you ask me a personal question about my life, I don't have to give you a straight answer.
"If you ask me something that's none of your business, I'm going to tell you what you want to hear to get out of my face."
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said Morrison's denial of past statements made his current statements untrustworthy.
"He consistently walks away from his own words, and that's why it's remarkable for him of all people to say he's never told a lie in public life," Mr Albanese said.
"The problem with that is it catches up with you."
Asked whether he had told a lie in public life, Albanese said "no".
"I stand by my record of integrity," Albanese said.
Morrison expected scrapped submarines to 'ruffle feathers'
The French president used a brief encounter with journalists at a meeting of international leaders in Rome to say he "knew" Morrison had lied to him.
A text message from Macron to the prime minister was later leaked to media in an attempt to refute the French president's suggestion he had been in the dark over the government's plans to end its contract with French company Naval Group to build 12 submarines.
The French ambassador to Australia called the decision to leak a private conversation between the two leaders a "new low" in diplomatic relations.
But Morrison this morning again defended his government's handling of the matter.
"I'm making the right decisions … I'm making the decision to protect Australia's national defence interests, to ensure that we … didn't proceed with a contract which wasn't going to do the right thing for Australia," Morrison said.
"I wasn't intimidated by the fact that might upset some people and ruffle some feathers.
"If you don't have the strength to do that, if you don't have the strength to deal with the sledges and other things that come your way, well you shouldn't be in this job."
- ABC