Opposition leader Bill Shorten doesn't want Australia to expand its role in Syria after the Paris attacks.
"I haven't seen the case made by our security agencies or our defence forces for the expansion of the role," he said in Cairns on Tuesday.
"Ultimate peace and stability in that region need to be driven by the nations of that region."
Mr Shorten doesn't think it is "at all a probability" Australian troops will be sent to Syria because President Barack Obama has ruled it out for the US.
"I don't think that (sending troops) will change anything," he said.
"The whole history of this conflict shows that just sending in large groups of troops from the West doesn't always end up achieving what you want".
Mr Shorten said Australian forces already did a lot in the region and the government should make sure domestic laws were strong enough to prevent attacks.
He said Australians should resist being divided and Labor will continue working with the government on national security.
Share
