Australia should be giving any request from Donald Trump to reopen the Strait of Hormuz “full consideration”, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor says, hours after another fiery outburst from the US leader towards allies.
On Wednesday, Mr Taylor claimed the Coalition was willing to work with the government to provide “whatever support is feasible”.
“What we don’t know is what is feasible. Are there any shifts that could go? What other capability could go? I don’t know the answers to those questions because the government doesn’t tell us,” he said.
“I’ll tell you one thing I know, though, is that the government has underinvested in our defence force in this country for years.
“And it means there is not the money that there needs to be in sustaining our military capability and making sure it’s able to provide the input, the support, the contribution where we need it to. And that’s a matter of great concern.”
Overnight, Mr Trump took to social media and told countries that had declined to join his campaign in Iran to “build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait and just TAKE IT”, referring to oil.
“All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the US, we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT,” he wrote.
“You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the USA won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us.
“Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!”
Anthony Albanese has denied receiving any request from the US leader to provide military assistance to help re-open the Strait of Hormuz.
But while Australia hadn’t been singled out in Mr Trump’s late-night comments, opposition legal affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash told Seven’s Sunrise it still conveyed a stark message, considering he had twice already taken aim at the nation.
“Well, I think you don’t ever take an alliance for granted. I mean, this was really a comment in relation to NATO allies,” she said.
“But I think the message for Australia is very, very clear. We must be stronger, more focused and more prepared when it comes to our own fuel security here at home, given in particular our reliance on the Strait of Hormuz.
“The President has obviously singled out Australians twice, and there does appear to be a little bit of confusion in relation to what our response has been in relation to any United States requests.”
But Mr Trump’s comments were later brushed off by Health Minister Mark Butler, who told the ABC the government was not interested in providing “daily commentary” and was confident of the relationship between the US and Australia.
He reiterated calls for de-escalation in the region, saying: “There’s one reason why the Strait of Hormuz is closed, and that’s the war that’s been waged between the US, Israel and Iran.
“Iran’s response to that, targeting countries in the region that have nothing to do with the war, and obviously shutting down this incredibly important artery for the global economy, is exactly why there is such a significant global fuel crisis.
“So that’s why we’ve called over the course of this week, in particular, for de-escalation, for a clear timeline that sees this war wound down and those straits opened again so that oil can continue to flow to the global economy.”
He said Australia had “no plans” to be involved in a military operation in the Strait of Hormuz.
But opposition foreign affairs spokesman Ted O’Brien took a different stance, telling ABC Radio that Australia should be open to contributing militarily.
Asked if he would be open to an offensive effort in the shipping channel, were a Coalition government in power, Mr O’Brien said: “Well, you could have an argument as to whether it’s offensive or defensive.
“The key question is, is it in our national interest? And my view is yes, it is,” he said.
“The second question is, what can we contribute in a material sense, that part of the equation we are yet to understand?
“And I think they’re the two questions that need to be answered … but I believe we should be open to making a contribution.”
