Barnaby Joyce concedes he’s ‘probably’ lied in public life

Scott Morrison has claimed he doesn’t believe he has told a lie in public life. His deputy, however, has a different view.

Scott Morrison has said he doesn’t believe he has told a lie in public life after accusations of duplicity were levelled against him by Emmanuel Macron and Malcolm Turnbull.

Mr Turnbull last week told reporters on the sidelines of the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow he had no doubt the French President had been deceived over the scrapping of a $90bn submarine deal.

He claimed he had experienced similar from Mr Morrison during his time in the top job and the now Prime Minister had a “reputation for telling lies”.

Mr Macron also levelled similar allegations against the Prime Minister, telling Australian reporters he knew Mr Morrison lied to him over the decision to scrap the French deal in favour of securing nuclear technology from the US and UK.

Mr Morrison on Friday was asked directly by 3AW radio host Neil Mitchell if he had ever told a lie in public life.

“I don’t believe I have, no. No,” Mr Morrison replied.

Mr Morrison has brushed off claims he is a serial liar. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

Mr Morrison said his job required him to have “thick skin” and he had learned not to take things personally.

“I have learned in public life over a long period of time to not have a thin skin. To not get bitter, to stay focused on the job,” he said on Friday morning.

“You’ll get slings and arrows from everywhere … if you haven’t got the thick skin to deal with that, then you’re in the wrong job.”

Following Mr Morrison’s radio appearance, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce backed the Prime Minister’s handling of the Macron spat.

Asked if he had ever lied in public life, Mr Joyce conceded he probably had.

“If you ask me a personal question about my life, I don't have to give you a straight answer,” he told reporters in Canberra on Friday.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has conceded he probably has told a lie in public life. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Sarah Matray

“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.”

But asked if that extended to matters of public policy, Mr Joyce pivoted to a discussion about coalmining in the Hunter Valley.

Mr Morrison’s handling of the decision to ditch the French submarine contract caused a diplomatic fallout that overshadowed much of the Prime Minister’s appearance at the G20 and Cop26 in Rome and Glasgow.

He said he knew the announcement would ruffle feathers, but he insisted he had made the right decision for Australia’s national interest.

“I’m making the decisions to protect Australia’s defence interests. I wasn’t intimidated by the fact it might upset some people,” Mr Morrison told 3AW on Friday.

“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.”

The accusations were levelled by both Mr Macron and Mr Turnbull. Picture: Adam Taylor/PMO

Mr Morrison was also asked about calls for Mr Turnbull, his predecessor, to be expelled from the Liberal Party. Mr Morrison said it was not something he thought about.

He added he had no intention of speaking to Mr Turnbull following his accusations.

“That’s not a judgment for me, it’s a matter for the Liberal Party. I don’t see the need for that. I mean, if others do, that’s fine, but it’s just not something I think about.

“Why would I spend a second worrying about that?”