Australia’s opposition defence spokesperson Brendan O’Connor has affirmed Labor’s commitment to the country’s United States alliance and outlined some of Labor’s key national security priorities if elected to government in May. “The bond between the United States and Australia cannot be overstated. It is a connection formed through our shared beliefs, aspirations and democratic values,” O’Connor said in an address to the United States Studies Centre in Sydney on March 16. “But this friendship between our two nations goes further than similarities in our cultural identity. Our relationship with the United States is fundamental to Australia’s security, sovereignty and prosperity. “Our alliance is also critical to underpinning peace, stability and freedom in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond,” he said. The comments come as Labor responds to the Morrison government’s accusations that it has a poor record on defence spending—which reached a low 1.56 percent of GDP when the party was …