PM lauds US-Aust intelligence relationship

Malcolm Turnbull is unfazed by the idea that other countries may have access to intelligence that Australia does not.

The prime minister on Wednesday refused to comment on reports US President Donald Trump disclosed classified information to senior Russia officials.

According to US media, it related to an Islamic State plot using laptops on planes - believed to have been sourced from Israel and not shared with other allies.

The White House insists it was "wholly appropriate" and "quite commonplace" for information about common threats to be shared between two countries.

Mr Trump himself defended via Twitter his right to share sensitive intelligence with Russia about "facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety".

"Plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism."

Mr Turnbull said Australia had a very close intelligence-sharing relationship with the US and its other Five Eyes partners

"It is as close as it possibly could be," he told reporters in Brisbane.

"We have no concerns about any other country having privileged access to information we don't have."

The prime minister would not go any further, stressing it was important to be circumspect and discreet about matters of national security.