The places will be additional to Australia’s current threshold of 13,750 humanitarian visas in 2015.

“Our focus will be on those most in need – the women, children and families of persecuted minorities who have sought refuge from the conflict in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey“, said a statement issued by Abbott’s office.

No timeframe has been set for identifying resettlement candidates, but Abbott has assured the public that officials will be sent “shortly” to begin the process in the warring region. He also confirmed that the refugees would be completely resettled in Australia.

“This is very much in Australia’s national interest”. In order to defeat and destroy DAESH in Iraq, it’s important to strike at their bases and supply lines in Syria as well. But Mr Abbott said it was important to act with heads as well as hearts in dealing with the crisis.

They also clarified that the extra $44m in humanitarian assistance for the millions of displaced Syrians who have fled to camps and communities in neighbouring lands would come from an emergency fund in the existing overseas development budget.

Abbott said Australia, already part of the US-led coalition fighting IS in Iraq, will launch air strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria within days.

The federal government stated the authorized foundation for extending air operations into Syria was the collective self-defence of Iraq because the armed group didn’t respect nationwide borders. He said the decision will only draw Australia “deeper and deeper into the vortex of Middle East civil war”. The United States asked Australia for its help in August to pursue a number of targets in Syria.

Australian Government views ranged from calls to resettle upwards of 30,000 Syrians to concerns the country wouldn’t support a huge increase in the quota.

World Vision CEO Tim Costello told the Anadolu Agency he was pleased with the government’s decision to provide additional places to refugees.

Elsewhere, Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro said on Tuesday that the socialist country would offer asylum to 20,000 Syrian refugees. But they will have to be coordinated to take a larger intake.

“I emphasise that our aircraft will be targeting Daesh, not the Assad regime, evil though it is”, Mr Abbott said.

“This is a generous response to suffering that demonstrates the compassion of the Australian people“, Bishop Long said.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said they would not particularly go looking for people who have used the services of people smugglers to get into Europe.