Sky News host Peta Credlin says there was “nothing” stopping the Nadesalingam family from returning to Sri Lanka and applying to come to Australia the “right way”.

“But that’s what’s happened, and I fear we’ve got … four boats already that have been intercepted by our military, our navy,” Ms Credlin said.

“This is going to get worse before it gets better and I think Labor do not have good form in this area about cleaning up this mess when it gets out of control.”