France calls leaked Macron text 'new low' in Australia subs row

Ties between France and Australia have been damaged by Canberra's cancellation of a major submarine deal

The Australia-France row over the collapse of a submarine deal reached an "unprecedented new low" when a text message from the French president to Australia's leader was leaked, France's ambassador to Canberra said Wednesday.

Emmanuel Macron sent the message to Prime Minister Scott Morrison two days before Australia announced that it had torn up a decade-old multi-billion-dollar contract with France to build a new fleet of submarines.

In a fiery speech on Wednesday, French ambassador to Australia Jean-Pierre Thebault said the leaking of the private text was an "unprecedented new low".

"Doing so also sends a very worrying signal for all heads of state: beware, in Australia, there will be leaks. 

In the message, Macron had asked Morrison: "Should I expect good or bad news for our joint submarine ambitions?"

- 'Proof of love' -

The pact is widely viewed as an attempt to counter rising Chinese influence in the Asia-Pacific region.

He pointed to an August joint communique underlining the importance of the sub deal -- just two weeks before it was ripped up -- adding "the deceit was intentional".

"We won't buy on promises of love. Love is good. But proof of love is much better," he said.

"I don't think there is any further profit for anyone in continuing down this path," he said. "Claims were made and claims were refuted, what is needed now is for us to all just get on with it."

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