Opposition leader Bill Shorten is all for calling terror group ISIL by a new name if that makes Australia safer.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott recently began referring to the group as Daesh, a name it reportedly hates, rather than its self-titled Islamic State.
Mr Shorten says he is "all for it" if Mr Abbott has advice from security agencies that this will help Australia.
"If it helps in making Australia safer, changing what we call this terrible organisation, well then we should," Mr Shorten told Fairfax radio in Brisbane on Monday.
He was also asked about reports of requests from the Middle East for Australia to boost its troop numbers in Iraq.
"We're not convinced that having Australian combat troops at the front line is going to change anything," Mr Shorten said.
"But we certainly do support the Australian engagement so far, of diminishing the assets of the terrorists, you know, bombing their equipment."
Large, armed contingents from Christian nations aren't going to be what wins local support, he said.
"But we do need to help make sure that the Iraqi government is able to defend its borders and provide safety for its citizens so well just keep working with the government."
Share
