If ever the world’s leaders needed to unite in a common cause, it is now.

It has been heartening to hear the calls for compassionate action in Australia from many people of vastly different political persuasions.

Australia has a long history, since the post-World War II period, of accepting refugees, and its economy and culture have been enriched as a result.

After the Vietnam War, both Labor and Liberal parties took a bi-partisan stance on the issue of refugees, as people took to boats in their thousands to make the perilous crossing to Australia.

Both parties accepted that politicising a humanitarian crisis would not help to solve it.

Instead, parties that were opposed on so many things, worked together to reach a solution.

The only solution that worked, in the end, was solid agreements with off-shore nations, notably those hosting refugee camps, for an orderly application process for refugees.

Such agreements are much harder to negotiate in a heightened political environment.

No-one can doubt the necessity that is driving the families fleeing fundamentalist violence in Iraq, Syria and neighbouring nations.

Australia was party to entering a war with Iraq more than a decade ago and a refugee crisis has existed ever since, as it does in all war zones.

Fundamentalist groups stand poised to wipe out entire cultures in these ancient lands.

If Australia could find it in its heart, once again, to hold out a helping hand, we could also hold our heads up on the world stage.