Malcolm Turnbull concedes the scale and frequency of terrorist attacks feels like war, but assures Australians they are safe, and expressed every confidence that civilisation will prevail over what he calls blasphemy against Islam by godless terrorists. 
Fresh from emergency phone talks with the head of ASIO, Duncan Lewis, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin, and the National Security Coordinator, Greg Moriarty, Mr Turnbull said the terror alert level would remain on "High", but he counselled Australians to be confident that their police and security services would protect them.
In his strongest comments since Friday night's co-ordinated attacks in Paris, Mr Turnbull left open the prospect of a greater Australian commitment in the war against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. He said Australia could also consider involvement in an international peace-keeping force if the situation in Syria could be stabilised.
Mr Turnbull said Australians should also have confidence in the rigour of the nation's immigration screening program, advising that he had discussed the possibility that terrorists could hide among asylum seeker populations with Mr Lewis and Mr Colvin.
Reports have emerged that one of the Paris shooters had entered Europe via Greece as a refugee.
Asked if he agreed with the comments of French President Francois Hollande that his country and the West were at war with terrorism, Mr Turnbull was frank.
"Well, it's guns and bombs, yes, it does look like a war, but it is - we have to recognise that the resources, the strength of our states, of our nations, are so much greater than those of the terrorists," he said nearing the end of 23-hour day of talks with foreign leaders and Australian security officials.
However, Mr Turnbull, who is in Turkey for the world's premier international leadership forum, the G20, said he was hopeful that a political solution would eventually be struck because it was the only way to stabilise Syria.
"It's important to remember that while the issue of security, the issue of terrorism will be a major issue, taking a considerable amount of attention here at the G20, we also will be focusing, as we should, as every government should, on growing our economies ... strong economic growth is absolutely critical."
Australia would still attend the upcoming climate change conference, which was expected to go ahead in Paris this month despite the attacks, he said.
He said he had spoken to 19-year-old Hobart woman Emily Grace Parkinson, who was recovering from surgery in a Paris hospital after being shot in the hip by Islamists on Friday - one of nearly 500 people either injured or killed in the barbarous co-ordinated attacks on seven target sites.
Mr Turnbull said Syria discussions in Vienna "appeared to be promising" adding "there will need to be a political solution".
Former prime minister Tony Abbott has raised the danger of terrorists infiltrating Australia as refugees, but Mr Turnbull hosed down such speculation.
"While there have been some exceptions, the history of terrorist activities in Australia and people of concern in this area is very much for the most part, second and third-generation Australians," Mr Turnbull said.
"So the screening of refugees of the humanitarian intake has been very careful."