Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the government is considering repatriation flights for Afghan translators and other staff who helped in Australia's mission in Afghanistan.
Hundreds of Afghans who worked for Australia have been urgently applying for protection visas to escape reprisal attacks from the resurgent Taliban, which considers those who worked with foreign forces traitors.
The government has been under increasing pressure in recent weeks to follow the United States in preparing for military evacuations of Afghans who served with their forces and agencies as support staff.