The government is set to give the go-ahead for RAAF combat missions to Syria but it's hesitating on taking more of the vast number of refugees fleeing the fighting in Syria and Iraq.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the government would consider a request from the United States for Australia to extend air operations from Iraq to Syria when the national security committee (NSC) meets next week.
"We are very determined to play our part in the international campaign against the death cult," he told reporters in Hobart.
Defence Minister Kevin Andrews said he was inclined to support the RAAF launching air attacks on Islamic State in Syria, though that was ultimately a decision for the NSC.
"This is not a radical departure from what we are doing now. It is simply widening our area of operation," he told the Australian newspaper.
But as Europe staggers under the weight of Syrian and Iraqi refugees fleeing across the Mediterranean, the government is still considering its position.
The Greens want Australia to agree to an emergency intake of 20,000 refugee fleeing the violence. Churches want 10,000.
Mr Abbott said the government decided last year to take 4400 fleeing from northern Iraq and east Syria.
He said Australia took its humanitarian obligations seriously and on a per capita basis already took in more refugees than any other country.
But he hinted there could be room for more.
"One of the good things about stopping the boats is that we are now in a much better position to increase our refugee and humanitarian intake," he said.
Greens leader Richard Di Natale said four million were fleeing war in Syria, two million of them children.
He said now was the time for Mr Abbott to show compassion and leadership, as former Prime Minister John Howard did during the Kosovo and East Timor crises.
"I just say to Tony Abbott, if you have a skerrick of compassion, of decency, of humanity - you would support the Greens' call and immediately welcome 20,000 Syrian refugees who desperately need our help," he told reporters in Melbourne on Saturday.
"We are a lucky country and strong enough to offer people safety and respite from war."
The Greens continue to oppose any extension of Australian air operations to Syria. Senator Di Natale said this would only make a bad situation worse.
Labor frontbencher Ed Husic said no matter what Australia did, the humanitarian intake would always be oversubscribed regardless of what limit was applied.
"It is important to see what we can do within the generally and proudly recognised point that we do our fair share in terms of opening the door and if we can help we should help," he told Sky.
If the government does increase its refugee intake, some could well end up in Tasmania.
Premier Will Hodgman confirmed the state was in talks with Canberra about how to bring in more displaced people under the Commonwealth's safe haven visa scheme.
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