Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor says the government has responded in a generous and measured way to the Syrian refugee crisis.

Mr Taylor said the government had announced it would provide 12,000 refugees from Syria permanent re-settlement places in Australia, as part of a broader strategy to help.

“There has been a security response, a humanitarian response in terms of the aid we are providing and a generous and measured response to the refugee crisis,” Mr Taylor said.

He said the 12,000 places would be in addition to the existing humanitarian programme which offered settlement to 13,750 refugees annually and would rise to 18,750 in 2018-19.

“This is the biggest displacement of people we have seen since World War Two. The government’s focus will be on those most in need - the women, children and families of persecuted minorities - who have sought refuge in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.”

Mr Taylor welcomed a further commitment of $44 million in humanitarian support to more than 240,000 Syrian and Iraqi people who had been forced to flee their homes. He said the funding would deliver food, water, healthcare, education, emergency supplies and protection.

“After today’s announcement, Australia’s financial contribution to help the humanitarian crisis in Syria and Iraq will be about $230 million since 2011. The overwhelming feeling from Australians is that this is an appropriate response to an unfolding situation,” he said.

Mr Taylor said the decision to extend Australia’s air strikes into Syria was a direct attempt to stop the displacement of Syrian people.

“We know from the United Nations that US bombing in Syria has managed to avoid the displacement of over 100,000 people. To the extent that our security assistance can help with the degradation of ISIS and to reduce the humanitarian crisis, we should provide it.”  

Mr Taylor said the Government was committed to keeping Australians safe from violent terrorism and responding to a deepening humanitarian crisis.