Mr Morrison's comments came as he paid tribute to 25,000 military personnel from Australia, New Zealand, the United States, UK, Canada and Japan taking part in the biennial Talisman Sabre exercises in Queensland.

"Australia and the United States see the world through the same eyes," he said on the deck of the USS Ronald Reagan.

"Or, as President Reagan put it, 'We both recognise the responsibility of freedom and are prepared to shoulder it squarely.'"

Mr Morrison described the $4.5 billion aircraft carrier, which has 4500 crew, as an "extraordinary symbol not only of American power, but of the United States' commitment to the many nations of this region and their security".

"It's not something we can ever take for granted."

American military newspaper Stars and Stripes reported the ship had a bumpy start, running into cranes in the Port of Brisbane as tug boats pulled it in so its sailors could take a short break before the exercises.

The incident, which is being investigated, caused minor damage to the ship and spilled hydraulic fluid on the pier.

Australian Associated Press