Dealing with the refugee crisis

CALLS FOR ACTION ON REFUGEE CRISIS

GOVERNMENT:

* PM Tony Abbott says Australia will act with "decency and strength" but is yet to detail the exact number of refugees the country will take.

* Calls from Liberal party room range from 10,000 to backbencher Ewen Jones's 50,000.

* Nationals MP Andrew Broad says 10,000 is "a spoonful off the top".

* Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says Australia will offer both temporary and permanent refuge.

* Frontbencher Malcolm Turnbull and Senator Eric Abetz call for Christian refugees to be given priority.

* Immigration Minister Peter Dutton will report after his talks with UN refugee agencies in Paris.

* Government whip Andrew Nikolic says action should be based on evidence rather than political point scoring: "We're not going to ... out-compassion each other."

OPPOSITION:

* Bill Shorten suggests immediate increase of refugee intake to 10,000 on top of the current 13,750 and immediate aid of $100 million to Middle East.

* Says offering temporary visas is "sort of selling people short".

GREENS:

* Leader Richard Di Natale calls for intake of 20,000 Syrians and says it is dangerous to prioritise according to faith.

JOHN HOWARD:

* Former PM says 1999 Kosovar refugee crisis was different: "That safe haven was offered in the genuine belief ... it would be a temporary thing and the Kosovars could go back to their homeland."

CATHOLIC CHURCH:

* Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher calls for "very substantial" increase with Christians given priority because of persecution.

NGOs AND CHARITIES:

* Refugee Council of Australia president Phil Glendenning says Australia's contribution so far is "shameful" and the Abbott government is too focused on "stopping the boats".

* World Vision Australia CEO Tim Costello says more needs to be done.