Afghanistan must not be lost terror: ALP

Labor defence spokesman Richard Marles hopes to be briefed by the Turnbull government this week on the potential need for additional Australian troops being sent to Afghanistan.

Mr Marles told Sky News on Sunday said he discovered on a recent trip to the country that it is experiencing an insurgency, with a greater presence of al-Qaeda, as well as Isis, making circumstances on the ground more difficult.

"We will act in a constructive way. Afghistan is absolutely too important to see lost to terrorist organisations," Mr Marles.