Anthony Albanese took some calls from ABC Melbourne listeners a little earlier this morning with one caller, Alan, wanting to know:

A few years ago we upset our French colleagues by cancelling a submarine contract. Why don’t we cancel the US submarine contract and go back to France again? If that means scrapping AUKUS as well, then so be it.

Albanese:

Because we believe that AUKUS is in the interest of defending our nation. We think it’s in Australia’s interest. And whilst we regard this as an act of self harm by the United States when it comes to their economy, what I’m not prepared to do is do anything that is not in Australia’s interests.

Yeah, that’ll learn them!