A crossbench senator has accused Prime Minister Tony Abbott of "scaring" the public into supporting Australia's role in Iraq and is predicting the combat mission will end in "frustration" instead of victory.

And the Liberal Democrat Senator David Leyonhjelm says he does not want to be part of the Prime Minister's "Team Australia", if it means Mr Abbott is the captain.

Senator David Leyonhjelm says if Tony Abbott is the "captain" of "Team Australia", he doesn't want to be part of it. Credit:Peter Rae

The NSW senator said the mission, which involves supporting airstrikes against Islamic State militants and sending 200 Special Forces to "advise and assist" the Iraqi army, is not in Australia's national interest.