Independent MP Andrew Wilkie has renewed calls for an inquiry into the Iraq war, arguing it has paved the way for the rise of Islamic State.
The former intelligence analyst says the Howard government, in which Tony Abbott was a minister, helped start the Iraq war and Mr Abbott should allow a full inquiry into the war.
Mr Abbott says he'd rather prosecute a fight against Islamic State than dwell on the past.
The PM says the conflict in Iraq and Syria is reaching out to Australia and all sides of politics need to come together to tackle terrorism.
Mr Wilkie told AAP the reasons why Australia became so enmeshed in the "diabolical mess" of Iraq had never been properly explained.
While the Howard government initiated two inquiries, both had narrow terms of reference and shifted the blame to intelligence agencies.
"The inquiry has always been important but it's even more important now because we are preoccupied with Islamic State, which is a product of a war we helped start," Mr Wilkie says.
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