Abbott takes credit for subs process start

Tony Abbott is pleased a builder for Australia's next submarine fleet has been announced but is claiming credit for starting the process to pick one.

The former prime minister, who many thought favoured Japan for the estimated $50 billion project, said the decision to award the contract to a French company flowed from an "exhaustive and very comprehensive" process put in place by his government.

"Australia's special relationship with Japan is more than strong enough to withstand this disappointment and I am confident our strategic partnership will continue to grow through other means," Mr Abbott said in a statement on Tuesday.