Defence Minister Richard Marles has denied claims that the former government was close to signing a compensation deal with France:
Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Richard Marles at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, on 11 June, 2022.Defence Minister Richard Marles has denied claims from the Opposition that the Scott Morrison government had been aiming for a lower figure of compensation to Naval Group for the government's cancellation of their submarine contract with France.
The decision in September 2021 to scrap the $90 billion contract enraged the French government, resulting in a diplomatic stoush that included the recall of its ambassadors from Canberra and Washington.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government had reached a fair and equitable settlement with Naval Group that would "rule a line" under the torn-up contracts.
"It still represents an extraordinary waste from a government that was always big on announcement but not good on delivery," he said.