While other politicians have dodged commenting on Donald Trump’s latest social media attack on European allies, Clare O’Neil has dismissed the whole thing as “nothing particularly out of the ordinary” from the US president.

Speaking to Sunrise this morning on a panel with shadow frontbencher Michaelia Cash, O’Neil said the commentary from the US president is “ absolutely inconsistent” with the longstanding partnership and friendship between Australia and the US.

I think in the scale of late night missives from Donald Trump, this is nothing particularly out of the ordinary. When it comes to the conflict in Iran, we have a pretty simple view. we want to see de-escalation of this conflict, not escalation. And we want to see a clear timeframe for how this conflict will be brought to an end.

Cash says the message for Australia is that “we must be stronger, more focused and more prepared when it comes to our own fuel security here at home”.

She points out that the US has singled out Australia twice, and there’s been mixed messaging between the PM and the deputy PM over whether the US has made any requests to Australia for support.

Richard Marles told the ABC’s 730 on 10 March that “A number of other countries, including the US have made requests which are centred on helping to provide for the defence of the Gulf countries.” While the prime minister has said, “there is no request being made to Australia that has not been agreed to.”