Australia should expand its operations in the Middle East to start bombing Isis targets in Syria, the chair of the parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security, Dan Tehan, has urged.

The prime minister, Tony Abbott, left the door open to conduct air strikes in Syria, when he announced in April that 330 Australian troops would be sent to Iraq on a training mission to combat Isis, also known as Islamic State or Daesh.

On Thursday Tehan argued that it was in Australia’s interests to act in Syria, too. “They’re raping, they’re murdering, their pillaging and we need to stop the foreign fighter flow to the caliphate in Syria,” the Liberal backbencher told ABC TV.

He flagged that the mission could require additional troops and extra defence assets. “That is the possibility,” Tehan said. “If necessary we could use the same aircraft [as used in Syria], but fly over Iraq and Syria. Or, if necessary, we could look at putting additional aircraft on.”

He had not spoken to Abbott about the suggestion, and had come to the conclusion that air strikes in Syria were necessary through his work on the intelligence committee.

Later the justice minister, Michael Keenan, told Sky News that any plans to expand the mission would be made “at the highest levels of the government”.



“As ever, Dan [Tehan]’s contribution to this debate has been very useful,” he said. “I’m not going to play a game of ruling in and ruling out what might happen in the future.”

The push to expand operations comes as News Ltd reported that Australia has begun informal talks with the US on increasing its role in Syria. The article said Abbott had “privately indicated” to the Obama administration that he would support Australian F18 Hornet aircraft being used in Syria.

Guardian Australia has contacted the prime minister’s office to verify the report.

Keenan said: “We’re constantly talking to our allies about the best way of destroying IS. Those conversations are ongoing.

“We’re determined to do all we can to destroy IS. Whilst they exist, they will be a threat to Australia. Obviously, we are doing that in conjunction with our allies.”

Tehan said Australia should stand ready to help if asked.

“What we need to do is talk with our international allies; we need to get movement at the United Nations, and if the request is for Australia to do more, then my view is Australia should be willing to do more,” he said.

Before the 2013 election, Abbott erred on the side of caution when it came to engaging in the Syrian conflict.

“We should be very reluctant to get too involved in very difficult conflicts which we may not be readily be able to influence for good,” he said in August 2013, during the election campaign.

“We should be very careful about getting involved in a civil war between two deeply unsavoury sides. This is a time for cool heads, not for intemperance or for belligerence.

“Should any action be taken it will be taken by countries with the capability to do so, and Australia is not one of those. This idea that Australia is going to be a key player here is, I think, to rather exaggerate our own importance.”

On Thursday Labor said it was up to the government to make the case about why Australian troops should be sent to Syria.

The opposition spokeswoman on foreign affairs, Tanya Plibersek, “There is a clear legal basis for Australia’s involvement in Iraq, and that’s the invitation of the Iraqi government to help it train its own forces to defend its own citizen. “There is no such clear legal basis for Australian involvement in Syria.”

“If they [the government] want to make a case that that’s changed, they should certainly offer a briefing to the opposition, but more importantly they should explain to the Australia people through the parliament, why they’ve change their view.”



She urged Abbott to front up on the issue. “If the PM wants us to change our position, he should have the courage to go into the parliament and make that argument rather than sending a backbencher out to float an idea and see how people respond,” she said.

“With 11.5 million people displaced, with millions in neighbouring countries like Jordan, like Lebanon, like Turkey, we should be doing more to help, but we’ve actually reduced our assistance to Syrian refugee.”



The head of World Vision Australia, Peter Costello, agreed.

“I personally believe weapons and bombing doesn’t solve it,” he told ABC TV. “We need to actually give up that illusion, stop supplying weapons, find a way to settle this issue and the humanitarian suffering.”