Australia will play no part in the Syrian civil war and any air strikes will be directed solely at Islamic State terrorists and only in Syria's east, says Defence Minister Kevin Andrews.
Should Australia agree to the US request to extend air operations to Syria, there will be no increase in forces above the current deployment of six F/A-18 Hornets, a Wedgetail airborne early warning aircraft and a KC-30A airborne tanker, Mr Andrews said.
That will go to the national security committee of cabinet, which will consider legal advice and the international law implications of operating over Syria without the approval of the Syrian government.
A decision will come in a week or so, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Tuesday.
Mr Andrews said this will not be mission creep as Islamic State does not respect borders, operating across the Syria-Iraq divide.
He said the focus is solely on protecting Iraq from Islamic State.
"We are not involved in the broader conflict in Syria," Mr Andrews told Sky News.
"We are not involved in the conflict involving the Assad regime. The request to us is specifically in the context of our fight against Daesh (Islamic State).
"If we want to be more effective against Daesh, then obviously we need to chase them when they move across the border into Syria."
Mr Andrews said Australian air operations will only cover the eastern part of Syria, not near the capital Damascus or the country's west.
He said Australia has already made a significant contribution, flying more than 900 missions over Iraq and training more than 2000 Iraqi soldiers.
He said there will continue to be ups and downs.
"This is not an overnight event. This is something which is going to go on for some time, and we have to continue to do our part," he said.
Mr Abbott, who is spending a week with indigenous communities in Torres Strait, said he wants to see a united Australia behind military action in the Middle East.
"Because, let's face it, this death cult that we're dealing with in the Middle East is reaching out to us," he told reporters.
About 120 Australians are known to be fighting with the group and about 30 have been killed.
"We've got to deal with it at home, we've got to deal with it at source, and that's why we are considering this US request," he said.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was briefed on the proposal on Monday afternoon, and he too wanted to see a united approach.
"We want to make sure the legal and moral framework for bombing in Syria, the case, is made," Mr Shorten told reporters in Brisbane.
"We are not going to rush into this. It's far too important both for our defence personnel ... and also for our national security."
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