‘Stroke of a pen’: Coalition urged to accept Afghan refugees in addition to existing intake

The immigration minister, Alex Hawke, has been urged to heed Australia's "moral obligation" to Afghan nationals fleeing the Taliban by ensuring resettlement places are on top of the existing humanitarian intake.

A delegation of faith groups, veterans' advocates and members of the Afghan diaspora met with Hawke in Canberra on Monday to implore him to ramp up assistance after 20 years of Australian military involvement in Afghanistan.

It is understood Hawke did not rule out the option of offering additional places for Afghan nationals.

In addition to the request to increase the overall humanitarian intake, the group also argued it was "cruel" for the government to leave Afghan nationals in limbo on temporary protection visas because they had previously arrived in Australia by boat.

Hawke announced last month the government would provide "at least 15,000 places for Afghan nationals, through our humanitarian and family visa program over four years".

That "multi-year" figure included 10,000 places for Afghan nationals within Australia's existing humanitarian program and at least 5,000 visas within the family stream.

But the Rev Tim Costello, one of nine members in Monday's delegation and the executive director of Micah Australia, said the announcement was "mean and tricky" because it did not result in any additional places.