Senior Cabinet minister David Littleproud wants the Federal Government to find a compassionate solution for a desperate Tamil asylum seeker family but says "no one is beyond the law".
Priya and Nades Marugappan and their two daughters are fighting to be released from immigration detention on Christmas Island.
Their youngest daughter, Tharnicaa, is currently in hospital in Perth, being treated for sepsis as a result of untreated pneumonia.
READ MORE: Mother of Biloela girl makes public plea after pneumonia diagnosis
There are reports the fate of the family, whose plight has attracted widespread attention in Australia, could be decided by Immigration Minister Alex Hawke within days.
Speaking on Today, Mr Littleproud said he had "compassion" for the Marugappans.
"The primary responsibility of the Federal Government is to keep its borders secure and people secure," he said.
"Sometimes the laws we put in place have unintended consequences, but no one is beyond the law in this country."
Mr Littleproud said a decision from Mr Hawke "about how we can do something not just with compassion but fairness" was likely imminent.
"I think over the coming couple of days the immigration minister will make a determination."
READ MORE: Coalition MPs call for Biloela family to be allowed to stay
The family have been living in immigration detention on Christmas Island since 2019, after they were removed from their adopted home of Biloela in Queensland by Border Force officers in 2018.
Last night, nine Australian peak medical bodies called for the Federal Government to immediately let the Marugappans return to Biloela.
"We can't have a public campaign," Mr Littleproud said.
"We need to let the rule of law take place, no one is beyond the rule of law."
Some within the Coalition are divided over the Marugappans.
A growing group of Coalition backbenchers is calling for an end to the saga, while others remain steadfast in the belief that granting the Marugappans residency will set a dangerous precedent.
READ MORE: Biloela family spared deportation for now, but remain on Christmas Island
Katie Allen, the Liberal member for Higgins, said "this has gone on too long".
"We urgently need a timely resolution to a situation that is endangering the health and well-being of innocent children," Ms Allen said in a social media post.
Mr and Mrs Marugappan are both Tamil, a group that has been persecuted in Sri Lanka.
They have an older daughter, Kopika.
Both girls were born in Australia.
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