Labor frontbencher Kristina Keneally believes the Morrison government should consider bringing home the Australian women and children that are marooned in Syria because of their links to foreign fighters.
The senator and opposition home affairs spokeswoman says the US has been calling on its western allies to bring their people back.
At the same time, the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor observed leaving foreign fighters in Syria is similar to when foreign fighters were left in Afghanistan in the 1970s.
"Those people went on to form al-Qaeda," Senator Keneally told ABC television's Insiders program on Sunday.
"While there is a risk to bringing these people back, there is also a risk to not bringing them back."
Asked if she thought the government should bring them home? Senator Keneally said: "If possible."
"The government needs to consider the options in front of it."
She said Australia does have the legislative tools in place to protect Australia's national security.
"Australians would expect the government to be making the right decisions, both in terms of our national security and morally," she said.
Australian Associated Press
