Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott says “it’s not too late” for the government to call President Donald Trump to offer support in the Iranian conflict, which is choking the world’s fuel supply.
Mr Abbott appeared on Sky News, urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to ring the White House, claiming it is what any of the nation’s previous leaders would have done.
“The only safe way for this war to end is for the Iranian war machine to be utterly destroyed,” Mr Abbott said.
“Frankly, it is not too late even now for our government to make contact with the White House and say ‘what can Australia do to help?’”
“That’s what I think every Australian Prime Minister would have done.
“America deserves our help (and) needs our help if it is to ensure freedom of navigation in this vital global chokepoint.”
Mr Abbott contended any peace deal allowing Iran to continue tolling transport vessels millions as they pass through the Strait of Hormuz would be a “subsidy for terrorism”.
“It would mean our miners, farmers and truckers are forever facing absolutely extortionate amounts for fuel,” he said.
President Trump has called out Australia on multiple occasions for not helping in the Iranian conflict, telling the media he was “a little surprised” by the lack of support.
Former Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo said he does not think President Trump’s singling out of Australia will impact national relations, yet he launched some criticism at the US Commander in Chief for not asking for help prior to the conflict.
“In terms of the Middle East, I think the President just wants to have a long list of grievances about those who he says didn’t help,” Mr Pezzullo told Sky News on Friday.
“Well he didn’t ask for help in the first place, (he) didn’t build a coalition.
“I think we can do more by the way.
“We’re just one on a list of grievances.”
‘Ignorant’
Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles pushed back against Mr Abbott’s claims.
“I respectfully disagree with Tony Abbott in the assertions that he’s making,” he told Sky News.
Asked about suggestions Australia’s response was lacking, Mr Marles said: “I completely reject that assertion from Tony Abbott.”
“I think, in the context of the conversations that have been happening, I mean, Tony Abbott’s view is fundamentally ignorant, but in a sense that’s understandable.
“He’s not in a position nowadays of being in the midst of those conversations in the way that you are when you’re in government, when you are governing – but we are.”
Asked with who those conversations were being had with, Mr Marles noted a UK-led effort for freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Asked earlier about America and Israel’s strikes in the Middle East, Mr Marles told ABC National Radio while Australia hasn’t been involved, the government supported the objective of eliminating Iran’s nuclear weapons capabilities.
“Firstly, this was a decision that was taken by the United States and by Israel,” he said.
“This is not a conflict of which Australia has been a part, I want to make that point.
“In terms of the strategic objective that we supported, which was denying Iran the capability of having a deployable nuclear weapon, it appears as though there has been some success.”
Mr Marles declared we need to see a “permanent” ceasefire in the Middle East so the global economy can return to normal.
“That’s clearly where the global national interest lies,” he said.
“It’s very much where Australia’s national interest lies and that’s our focus.”
Mr Marles is serving as acting Prime Minister while Mr Albanese is brokering a fuel trade deal with Singapore, which is one of the world’s largest oil refining and trading hubs.
