Dutton grants first visas to Syrian families under expanded program

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has presented the first four Syrian refugee families with visas for Australia as part of the intake of 12,000 people.

Source: ABC TV

The first four Syrian refugee families have been granted visas for Australia as part of an intake of 12,000.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton presented the refugees with their visas at a ceremony in Jordan after visiting the United Nation's Zaatari refugee camp, a desert city home to about 100,000 people.

A spokesman for Mr Dutton said it was still early days in the resettlement arrangements, no dates were set yet but the families would be travelling to Australia within weeks.

Mr Dutton said it was a deeply moving ceremony, particularly seeing the children's excitement about their prospects for a new start.

"You couldn't help but feel the emotion looking into the eyes of the parents (too)," he told Sky News.