The first wave of Syrian and Iraqi refugees will begin their new lives in Australia in time for Christmas after Tony Abbott announced that 12,000 fleeing persecution and violence would be welcome in Australia.
Days after ruling out an increase in the annual 13,750 refugee intake, Mr Abbott yesterday virtually doubled the number of refugees Australia would accept in 2015-16 in response to the humanitarian crisis that has spread from the Middle East to Europe.
The Prime Minister revealed the $700 million mercy mission in tandem with an expansion of bombing operations against Islamic State targets in Syria.
â€oeItâ€[TM]s important that we act with our head as well as with our heart here,â€ he said.
Women, children and families from persecuted minorities living in refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey will be the priority.
Mr Abbott said it would include Christians and Muslims and they would have permanent residency.
â€oeThis is a region which is riven with conflict, which is soaked in blood, so you can fully understand why so many people, despite ancient connections with this land, can never go back and itâ€[TM]s those that can never really go back that weâ€[TM]re focused on,â€ he said.
The Government also pledged $44 million to provide food, water, blankets, clothing and shelter for 240,000 refugees living in countries neighbouring the war zone, bringing Australiaâ€[TM]s foreign aid contribution to the crisis to $230 million since 2011.
The Opposition and refugee groups welcomed the increased intake. â€oeOur compassion should pay no heed to the colour of a personâ€[TM]s skin or the god they pray to,â€ leader Bill Shorten said. 
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said Australiaâ€[TM]s contribution â€oecomes at a crucial time when UNHCR is stretched to capacity in meeting the needs of the most desperateâ€. 
Immigration officials are already in the Middle East and more will be sent in coming weeks to liaise with the UNHCR to find refugees suitable for the mammoth resettlement operation.
In Jordan alone, 630,000 Syrian refugees have registered with the UNHCR, with 83,000 people living at the Zaatari camp.
Australian officials will interview prospective candidates, with assessments carried out face to face or via videolink.
Refugees will have health, security and identity checks in their current country, including biometric scans.
 They will also be subject to character checks, with the PM saying he did not want to bring anyone to Australia who posed a threat to community safety. 
Refugees will complete â€oecultural orientationâ€ and an Australian values statement so they are familiar with our way of life and domestic laws. They will not have to pass an English test.
When approved, the refugees will come to Australia on a commercial flight. On their arrival, they will be provided with short-term housing and package of basic household goods such as furniture, appliances and cooking utensils.
They will also get access to welfare, Medicare, counselling, education and English lessons. And they will have work rights. Over time, the cost to the taxpayer of supporting them will fall as they find jobs.
 The refugees will eventually be able to sponsor relatives to come to Australia under family reunion programs.
A senior government official expects the first refugees to arrive by Christmas, with the bulk of the 12,000 to be here by the middle of next year.
While Colin Barnett has offered to settle 1000 refugees in WA, officials will not apportion quotas to the States and expect most will live near existing Syrian communities in big cities.
The Premier said if the national target of 12,000 refugees meant WA took â€oea few moreâ€ than the 1000 figure he nominated on Monday, he would be happy about it.
â€oeWe will do all that we can to support those people, bearing in mind that about half of them or more will be under 18 years old,â€ Mr Barnett said.
â€oeI think the most practical issues is the short-term emergency accommodation. We are looking at whatâ€[TM]s available and how that may be used.
â€oeWe donâ€[TM]t know when people will arrive, we donâ€[TM]t know what the numbers will be but itâ€[TM]s not going to be 1000 at any one time.  Iâ€[TM]m quite confident we will be able to manage it.â€
Mr Barnett reassured West Australians that refugees selected to move to WA would not pose any threat to the community but acknowledged there might be a backlash from a minority.
â€oeBut this is a humanitarian crisis,â€ he said. â€oeAustralia, WA, countries, States and provinces around the world are sharing the burden. Thatâ€[TM]s a good thing and something we should feel proud of.â€
EDITORIAL  P20