Tim Fischer warns on terror response

Former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer says the federal government cannot "slam the door shut" on refugees after the Paris attacks.

Mr Fischer will speak about Australian security at Adelaide's Flinders University on Thursday night, almost a week after attacks in Paris killed 129 people and left more than 350 injured.

Islamic state has claimed responsibility for the series of shootings and explosions.

Mr Fischer, a former deputy to Prime Minister John Howard and Nationals leader, will urge Australia not to close its borders because "it would mean the terrorists have won".

"To reverse world engagement and retreat into largely closed borders and an isolated cocoon would be exactly the wrong approach," his draft speech says.

But Mr Fischer backs the coalition's hardline approach to asylum seekers, with its refusal to resettle people arriving on boats and the turn-back of some boats.

He will also address Australia's slew of leadership spills, beginning when Mr Howard was deposed in 2011.

"Our democracy is not broken, even if we have had four prime ministers and four federal treasurers in four years," he says.

"It demonstrates the system works and reasonably well. If you do not have the numbers ... then you will cease to be in the top job."