‘Reputation for lies’: Former PM Malcolm Turnbull slams Scott Morrison at COP26 conference

Malcolm Turnbull has let rip on Scott Morrison backing the French President’s comments that he’s a liar. But another former PM is in Morrison’s corner.

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has launched an extraordinary attack on Scott Morrison backing French President Emmanuel Macron’s claim that he is a liar.

Mr Turnbull was speaking on the sidelines of the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow. Mr Morrison was due to hold a press conference at the conclusion of the world leader’s portion of the summit on Tuesday but it was cancelled after his predecessor’s outburst and he is now flying back to Australia.

In Glasgow, the former PM was asked about the fracas between Canberra and Paris over Australia’s cancelled French submarine deal and Mr Macron’s comments that Mr Morrison had lied.

“He’s lied to me on many occasions,” Mr Turnbull told reporters.

“Scott has always had a reputation for telling lies.

“But when you do that, as the leader of the nation, internationally, it reflects on us all.

“Deceiving people is bad wherever you do it, but when you do it at an international level, it has much graver ramifications.”

Earlier in the week, Mr Macron had been asked if he thought Mr Morrison had lied over the scrapping of the submarine deal which Paris claims it was kept in the dark about.

“I don’t think, I know,” replied Mr Macron.

That lead to a furious response from Mr Morrison who said Australians “would not cop a sledging” from Mr Macron. Private texts then emerged, apparently sent from Mr Macron to Mr Morrison which suggested he did have some idea the submarine contract was in trouble prior to the AUKUS pact being announced in September.

The stoush between the pair has overshadowed Australia’s attendance at both the G20 summit and COP26 conference.

Malcolm Turnbull at COP26 conference in Glasgow. Picture: Channel 9

“This is shocking conduct from Scott Morrison and he can bluster as much as he likes but he’s not fooling anyone,” Mr Turnbull said.

“He has sacrificed Australian honour, Australian security and Australian sovereignty”.

The previous submarine deal between Australia and France was signed in 2016 under Mr Turnbull’s tenure in The Lodge.

Mr Turnbull said Mr Morrison’s moves on the subs deal had done “enormous damage” and he should apologise.

“We had a relationship of the deepest trust and confidence with France – the French shared with us some of their most secret technology on submarines.

“It was a partnership between two nations as a cornerstone of France-Indo-Pacific strategy and to be double dealing with them the way Morrison did was shameful.”

Prince Charles meets with Scott Morrison at the COP26 Climate Conference in Glasgow on November 2. (Photo by Jane Barlow/AFP

Tony Abbott backs PM

But another former PM has backed Mr Morrison.

Speaking in New York, Tony Abbott said the decision to scrap the deal was unexpected but reasonable.

“It was an extraordinary decision, a decision that I wish I had been able to make in my time as prime minister, but all credit to Scott Morrison for being able to do this,” Mr Abbott said.

“The contract we signed with the French had lots of exit ramps, and all we’ve done is take one of the contractual exit ramps that we were perfectly entitled to take.

“And whatever we are required to pay to the French under the contract, we will certainly pay and if that’s hundreds of millions of dollars, we will gladly pay it because that’s what they are owed.”

French President Emmanuel Macron has been backed by Malcolm Turnbull on his assessment of Scott Morrison. Picture: Yves Herman/AFP

Mr Morrison left Glasgow on Tuesday following a meeting with Prince Charles. Australia was one of four countries not to sign up to a pledge to cut methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030 from 2020 levels.

Methane is more short-lived in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide but 80 times more potent in warming the earth. Cutting emissions of the gas, which is estimated to have accounted for 30 per cent of global warming since pre-industrial times, is one of the most effective ways of slowing climate change.

Australia, China, Russia and India all failed to join the Global Methane Pledge.

Minister Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said the only way Australia could achieve that target would be to reduce numbers of cattle and sheep.

“At present, almost half of Australia’s annual methane emissions come from the agriculture sector, where no affordable, practical and large-scale way exists to reduce it other than by culling herd sizes,” he wrote.

While world leaders have now departed Scotland, the COP26 summit is far from over with another 10 days of negotiations taking place between countries on climate issues.

The conference is due to conclude on November 12 when new commitments will be announced.

Originally published as ‘Reputation for lies’: Former PM Malcolm Turnbull slams Scott Morrison at COP26 conference