Suu Kyi, Turnbull in talks on Rohingya

Australia has offered support to end the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar's Rakhine State, as Malcolm Turnbull met with Aung San Suu Kyi in Canberra.

Ms Suu Kyi was welcomed to Parliament House with a 19-gun salute on Monday morning, but had to cancel a later speech and question-and-answer session in Sydney due to illness.

As state counsellor, a position akin to prime minister, the Nobel Peace Prize winner was in Sydney on the weekend for a special gathering of southeast Asian leaders.

During a day of formal events in Canberra, Mr Turnbull and Ms Suu Kyi had a detailed discussion about the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

The prime minister encouraged her to reach a resolution for the resettlement of displaced people.

He also noted Australia's aid commitment to Myanmar and Bangladesh and offered ongoing support and assistance to end the crisis and ensure displaced people can return to their homes as quickly as possible.

The leaders also discussed economic development, education challenges and overseas development assistance in Myanmar as well as water management and research.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and Labor's foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong raised with Ms Suu Kyi human rights issues and concerns about events in Rakhine State.

They pressed the need for Myanmar to work with all parties to ensure conditions are met that will allow for the safe return of Rohingya refugees to Rakhine State.

Also on Labor's agenda was trade, agriculture, vocational education and action on climate change.

Ms Suu Kyi has been criticised in recent months for her silence in the face of the ongoing persecution of Myanmar's Rohingya.

Save the Children spokesman Mat Tinkler was encouraged the Rohingya crisis had been discussed "head on".

The international organisation had seen first-hand the plight of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya living in Bangladesh having fled violence in Myanmar.

"The Rohingya crisis has its roots in acts of unspeakable violence that occurred in Myanmar," Mr Tinkler said in a statement.

"It will never truly be resolved unless the root causes of this violence are addressed and Myanmar and its military are held accountable for its actions."

He urged the government to support access for a UN fact-finding mission in Myanmar's Northern Rakhine State to investigate the allegations.