Why the PM won’t call Solomon Islands about China deal

Scott Morrison has copped a grilling over a major China deal, revealing the reason he won’t call the Solomon Islands.

Scott Morrison has refused to reveal when he last spoke to his Solomon Islands counterpart, after conceding the pair hadn’t spoken since Manasseh Sogavare signed a deal with China.

He also declined to comment on reports Australia had played a role in leaking the deal online last month.

“I would never comment on intelligence matters of that nature … these are highly sensitive matters,” Mr Morrison told reporters.

During a breakfast television grilling on Friday, Mr Morrison let it slip that he did not think sending Foreign Minister Marise Payne to Honiara would have shifted Mr Sogavare’s position.

“There was no opportunity, I think, for him to change his mind on this,” Mr Morrison told Nine, before revealing he had not spoken to his counterpart since the deal was inked.

Mr Morrison was bombarded with questions at his presser on Friday. Picture: Jason Edwards

Speaking later in the Labor-held seat of Blair, Mr Morrison was pressed further about why he hadn't picked up the phone.

“I have spoken to Prime Minister Sogavare on several occasions this year,” he said.

He revealed the last time the pair had spoken was “within the last month” but would not say exactly when that conversation occurred.

“We have followed very careful advice about the interactions that we‘ve had, particularly direct interactions. I can’t go into any more details about that,” Mr Morrison said.

Mr Morrison and Mr Sogavare during a previous Pacific Island Forum. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

When asked if he had been advised not to call Mr Sogavare, the Prime Minister told reporters: “You can’t take from that any implication one way or the other”.

The Prime Minister has been under fire since the landmark deal was signed, with experts and members of his own cabinet warning it could lead to a military base in the Pacific Island nation.

But there is “no credible information” to suggest that a naval base could be established, Mr Morrison assured.

It comes as the Coalition stepped up its attack on Labor over its national security and defence credentials.

In a fiery tirade, Mr Dutton accused deputy leader Richard Marles and Greens leader Adam Bandt of being in cahoots.

Mr Dutton lashed out at Labor’s credentials. Picture: Jason Edwards

“I think most Australians were pretty shocked when Adam Bandt spoke about there being no problem in our region, stripping money from the defence force,” he said.

“It seems when you look now at what Richard Marles has written just in the last year or so, there's not much difference.”

But Anthony Albanese’s understudy lashed the Coalition’s attacks in his first outing as the Labor leader’s stand in.

Frontbencher Jason Clare hit out at the government’s “bin fire” response to the deal, pointing out the contradictions in the Coalition’s cabinet minister’s statements.

“Have a look at what Scott Morrison said only two days ago. He said there won’t be any military bases here,” Mr Clare told reporters in Sydney.

“On the other side, you’ve got Barnaby Joyce saying this is the second Cuban missile crisis.

“This government is a bin fire on this. You have Scott Morrison who has one position, a totally different position from the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia here.”