Peter Dutton would seek a meeting with US President Donald Trump in his first days as prime minister, the opposition leader has revealed.
In a major foreign policy speech, Mr Dutton said he would seek to strengthen ties with the US, while also promising to stand up to Mr Trump on issues affecting Australia.
"The United States remains our most important military partner and there is a lot of repair work to do in that relationship," he told the Lowy Institute on Thursday.
Mr Dutton said there were a number of competing priorities, but the US would be a "very early first visit".
"President Trump's been elected to put America first. My job is to put Australia first and I will stand up firmly against President Trump or anyone else in our country's best interests," the opposition leader said.
The speech was interrupted by two protesters from climate group Rising Tide, who were demonstrating against the coalition's plan to build nuclear power plants should the party win the election.
"Why are you lying to the Australian people about the cost of nuclear?" one of the protesters said as they were taken out of the room.
Another protester fell onto seated guests as he was led away by security.
Zack Schofield, one of the protesters from the group, said the party needed to distance itself from nuclear.
"We have just seen with ex-tropical cyclone Alfred what the climate crisis is already doing to Australian communities. We cannot afford more distraction and delay with unfeasible policies like nuclear," he said.
The opposition leader used the speech to call for Australia's defence force to be more self-reliant.
"If our sovereign interests are threatened, Australia must never be in a position where we are totally relying on friendly cavalry to come over the hill, and sadly, that is the reality for our country today," he said.
"History has shown that acquiescence or appeasement ends in a cul-de-sac of strategic misfortune or worse, the government I lead will be fair and firm in its dealings with others."
Mr Dutton said a strengthening of defence was needed in response to growing threats in the region.
"Australians know that we face a far more uncertain and dangerous world today than at any time in recent memory. The imperialistic Putin seems to be determined to swallow up Ukraine," he said.
"The Chinese Communist Party is asserting itself militarily in our region and indeed across the world, often in aggressive ways that have endangered our men and women in uniform."
Despite the comments, the opposition leader said he would seek to foster better ties with China which remains Australia's biggest trading partner.
"We naturally seek a stabilised and respectful relationship with China and a healthy trading relationship which benefits our two peoples," he said.
