Call for Aust to lift Iraq refugee intake

A former Iraqi man, celebrated in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for service to multicultural relations, says Australia has a moral obligation to do more to help those fleeing conflict in the Middle East.

Dr Amad Ismail Mtashar arrived in Australia in 1992 from Iraq where as a Mandaean - a religious minority that follows John the Baptist - he faced persecution from Muslim groups and ongoing sectarian violence.

He said it was heart breaking to see his country of birth still ravaged by war.

Dr Mtashar, awarded a medal of the Order of Australia for service to multicultural relations, and to the community of south-western Sydney, said he was grateful and had wanted to give back after "Australia had given safe haven" to his children.

But he says Australia can do more.

"We have a good migration program, honestly, but we need more. We need more people to come because of what's happening with the situation," he told AAP.

"Especially [as] Australia is one of the coalition of the willing. With all respect, there is [also] a moral obligation to do more."

Dr Mtashar is president and founder of the Mandaean Australian Community Cultural Club and has been a contributor at Amnesty International Australia since 2004.