The woman set to be Australia's new foreign minister says she has not yet been briefed whether the Syrian regime has used chemical weapons against its own citizens.
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''I've not yet been briefed on the evidence that the United States says it has to prove that chemical weapons were used,'' deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop told Sky News on Sunday.
Ms Bishop said she had discussed the issue with British Foreign Secretary William Hague and would speak to him again this week.
Outgoing prime minister Kevin Rudd was briefed on the crisis at least twice in the last fortnight of the election campaign.
He said the evidence that chemical weapons were used and that the Syrian regime was responsible was ''overwhelming''.
Tony Abbott received a Syria update on Sunday among other briefings on his first day as prime minister-elect.
This week, the US Congress will debate a possible strike on Syria, with President Barack Obama due to address his nation on the case for military intervention.
Judith Ireland with AAP