Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison presents his national statement as part of the World Leaders' Summit of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland on Nov 1, 2021. (IAN FORSYTH / POOL / AFP)

CANBERRA - Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday he doesn't believe he has lied since he was elected to parliament in 2007, rejecting allegations from French President Emmanuel Macron and others.

French President Emmanuel Macron this month said Morrison had lied to him over Australia's decision to scrap a multibillion-dollar deal with France to build Canberra's new fleet of submarines.

Criticism of Scott Morrison intensified this week when he announced his government would spend A$178 million to support electric vehicles, three years after he criticized the technology

Criticism of Morrison intensified this week when he announced his government would spend A$178 million ($129.6 million) to support electric vehicles, three years after he criticized the technology.

But when asked on Friday, Morrison rejected allegations he had lied.

"No, I don't believe I have, no," Morrison told 3AW Radio. "It's politics. People take sledges at me all the time … I've learned in public life over a long period of time to not have a thin skin, to not get bitter."

Morrison's comments came as Australia tries to repair ties with France.

ALSO READ: Macron says Aussie PM Morrison lied to him on sub deal

France has said Australia did not attempt to inform it of the cancellation until the day Canberra announced its deal with the United States and Britain. Morrison denies that, and messages he sent to Macron in the week before the announcement have since been leaked to local media.

In solidarity with France, the European Union last month postponed the next round of talks on a free trade deal for a second time.