Independent Kerryn Phelps has thrown her support behind third country resettlement for people in offshore detention.
In a speech on Saturday addressing an Amnesty forum on refugees, the federal member for Wentworth said "the situation on Nauru and Manus is nothing short of a humanitarian crisis."'
"Earlier this month, prime minister Scott Morrison said he had 'cried and prayed on his knees' over the plight of children of asylum seekers held offshore," Dr Phelps said.
"Mr Morrison - you are in a position to stand up and actually do something," she said.
Dr Phelps, who will be sworn into parliament this sitting fortnight, earlier described the government's New Zealand deal for refugee resettlement as "a very attractive decision."
On Saturday she said: "We need to encourage safe and secure third country settlement for all people detained on Manus and Nauru, with a pathway to full citizenship in their country of resettlement."
Dr Phelps also called for "faster processing of asylum seeker applications" and "realistic and humane solutions ... as soon as possible without separating family members."
Scott Morrison has gone cold on New Zealand's offer to settle at least 150 refugees from Nauru, reiterating the government's position to prime minister Jacinda Ardern during the recent ASEAN conference in Singapore.
The election of Dr Phelps at the Wentworth byelection resulted in the loss of the coalition's majority in the lower house and increased numbers on the crossbench.
