30 asylum seekers fail security checks

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton says more than two dozen asylum seekers under the Iraq and Syria programs were excluded after they failed security checks.

About 30 applicants from Middle East camps seeking resettlement in Australia have been excluded on national security grounds.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton told parliament on Monday the government was giving refugees under the Iraq and Syria programs the best chance of resettling in Australia, but some had failed checks.

"Through an unprecedented attempt to scrutinise through biometric testing and Five Eyes (international intelligence sharing agreement), we have excluded 30 or so applicants," Mr Dutton said.