Prime Minister Tony Abbott has defended Australia’s role in a multinational spy information-sharing network, and will never apologise for “doing what’s necessary”.

The Australian Prime Minister has visited Canada on his current world tour, meeting the country’s similarly conservative Prime Minister, Stephen Harper.

Canada is a member of the “Five Eyes” spying alliance along with Australia, England, New Zealand and the US.

Revelations from the US National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden have raised many questions about the alliance's activities.

Tony Abbott, who has recently described the US as the “heavy-lifter” of the Five Eyes network, says it is about out-thinking nefarious opponents.

“Obviously we have to be intelligent about our intelligence,” Abbott said.

“I mean that goes without saying, but the important thing is not to be deterred from doing what is necessary to protect our citizens, our interests and our values.

“What is sometimes forgotten about the work of the Five Eyes is that it’s not just for the benefit of those five countries but it is ultimately for the benefit of the wider world,” the Prime Minister said when asked if Five Eyes should re-think its invasive practices.

“Sure, our intelligence gathering has got to be done in a way that is decent and fair and which doesn’t betray the fundamental values that we are doing our best to uphold, but we should never, ever apologise for doing what’s necessary to protect ourselves and to help our friends, and that’s exactly what the Five Eyes arrangements are designed to do,” he said.

Despite cancelling meetings with leaders of the global financial system - the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, and the World Bank president, Jim Yong Kim - Mr Abbott says he is hoping to meet with media magnate Rupert Murdoch while in New York.

“As I said, the program is not entirely finalised but I hope I do, because he is a very distinguished Australian and the last time I was in New York certainly I did meet with him,” Abbott said.