BEFORE their country descended into war, Syrian people were lawyers, doctors, teachers, mechanics, like any other country.

But now those people are fleeing for their lives, and Capricornia MP Michelle Landry believes many of them should be able to rebuild their lives in CQ.

While many refugees end up living in metropolitan areas, Ms Landry said she thinks it would be better for them to settle in regional areas in need of a population boost.

Rental vacancies (see REIQ table) across CQ have increased as mining jobs have disappeared.

"If we can get them into towns in rural areas where no one is renting these houses and have them start to make a life for themselves out there, it's going to generate income for businesses if they have people filling house vacancies," Ms Landry said.

"We need to put a lot of thought into it, and we also need to have organisations prepared to help them adjust into our community.

"A lot of them really do appreciate being in our country and they really want to work."

Earlier this month former Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced Australia would accept a one-off intake of 12,000 extra refugees, as the global number of refugees reached 19.5 million.

Member for Flynn Ken O'Dowd also believes rural areas need more people to boost the local economy.

"If we can find jobs for refugees, I think it is a good idea to bring these persecuted people to our areas so that we can help each other," he said.

"I have spoken to several local government leaders previously about this idea, and they have expressed interest in bringing refugees to rural Australia.

"Of course, the success of such a proposal would be reliant on several factors. We would need to have enough available housing, and we would need to have employment opportunities.

"But there are definitely economic benefits, not to mention humanitarian reasons for inviting those fleeing the conflicts in the Middle East to join us in regional Australia."

In Crisis

A refugee is a person outside their country of origin who has a fear of persecution due to their race, religion, social group, nationality or political opinion

There are 19.5 million refugees globally, and 59.5 million displaced people

One in every 122 people is now either a refugee, internally displaced, or seeking asylum

Source: UNHCR