An international relations expert says while there are “real risks” in bringing Australian families back home from Syrian camps, there’s greater risk in not acting.

It comes after it was revealed the federal government was planning to repatriate a number of families still being held in camps in the north-east of the country

“There’s real risk in bringing wives of Islamic State fighters and people who might have worked with Islamic State, or share their violent ideology home,” Michael Shoebridge, Director at Strategic Insights Australia, told Jim Wilson on 2GB Drive.

“But there’s greater risk in my view in leaving these children to be radicalised in these camps.”

Press PLAY below to hear the concerns of Michael Shoebridge

Photo by Izzeddin Kasim/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images