The Australian intake of 12 000 Syrian refugees announced by the Prime Minister today still appears to be well below what other countries are doing, and what Australia could do, according to a Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic.

Dr Piero Moraro (pictured) is a lecturer and discipline leader in justice studies in the CSU School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and a Research Fellow at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics (CAPPE).

He questions whether the government's announced emphasis on selection ' ... from persecuted minorities' is effectively code for giving priority to Christian refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria.

"At the moment it does not seem clear whether the government will go ahead with the 'Christians only' approach," Dr Moraro said.

"The suggestion afoot in political debate that Australia should prioritise Christians over Muslims is not explained. It is hard not to think it is based on prejudice.

"In the current times, a responsible government should strive to reduce tensions between Muslim and non-Muslim groups. But saying 'Christians first' can only further the feeling that Muslims are treated as second-class citizens.

"Unfortunately, not for the first time, the Australian Government appears to misunderstand what a refugee is, and what responsibilities Australia has as signatory to the UN Refugee Convention. Article 3 of the Convention specifically states that no religious discrimination will be applied to refugees."

Dr Moraro also questions the practicalities of singling out Christians among the refugees.

"How would that be achieved?" he asked. "Would Australia ask refugees, for example, to quote parts of the Bible, and send them back if they fail to do so? That might remind some of us of barbaric practices by extremists in other countries."