Defence Minister Richard Marles has scoffed at suggestions that the Coalition was anywhere near agreeing to a compensation package with France after Australia abandoned its submarine contract last year.

New opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie has questioned the size of the compensation being paid to France, saying the outgoing Morrison government had been aiming for a significantly lower figure.

“That’s just not true,” Mr Marles, who is also deputy prime minister, told Sky News’ Sunday Agenda program.

“What we are seeing from the Coalition weeks into their time in opposition is that they are just making stuff up now.”