We may take more Syrian refugees: Dutton

Australia may accept more than the 12,000 refugees it's planning to take from war-torn areas of the Middle East.

Peter Dutton has ignited debate in parliament after saying mistakes were made bringing Lebanese refugees to Australia in the 1970s. Source: AAP

The federal government has flagged it may take more refugees fleeing war zones in Syria and Iraq.

So far 6507 have arrived in Australia - a little over half the intake announced by the Abbott government in 2015.

"If we get this program right (it allows us) to say to the Australian people that we may want to expand this program," Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has told the ABC's Australian Story.

"And if people have faith in the integrity of the process, then it does give the government the ability to expand beyond the 12,000."

Mr Dutton acknowledged the process could be "long and protracted" but defended the need for security checks.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told reporters in Lima, Peru where he is attending the APEC summit, the government had no plans to increase the 12,000 number.

But he noted there were plans to increase the annual humanitarian intake.