Australia to take 12,000 refugees, boost aid and bomb Syria

Australia will take a one-off increase of 12,000 refugees from Syria, provide $44 million in extra funding to aid the United Nations, and launch airstrikes inside the war-torn country within a week, the federal government has agreed.

After being initially reluctant to take any more refugees above Australia's annual humanitarian intake of 13,750, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has agreed on the one-off intake of 12,000 refugees, who will be accepted in addition to the overall annual intake and expected increases.