Drowned boy reminder to stop the boats: PM

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says images of a drowned Syrian boy in Turkey show the importance of stopping asylum-seeker boats.

Responding to the photographs of a toddler who died at sea and lying lifeless on the beach, Mr Abbott said he was thankful his government had stopped illegal migration.

"As long as people think if they can get here, they can stay here... we'll have the tragedies at sea," he told ABC radio on Friday.