PM 'sympathises' with frustrated Australians, but condemns threats

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has doubled down on his call for state and territory governments to "step back" as COVID-19 vaccination rates rise.

State leaders and members of the Federal Government have been swapping barbs after Mr Morrison criticised Western Australia and Queensland for maintaining more stringent vaccine rules than required by the national plan.

Protests have taken place this week in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, including threats to politicians.

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Mr Morrison did condemn the threats and violence conducted by some protesters in Melbourne.

"I completely and totally and continue to denounce any violence, any threat, any intimidation," he said.

"And any suggestion that I have not done that is completely false.

"What I'm also very clear about is our national plan.

"What I'm also very clear about is it's important that governments keep their side of the deal."

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Mr Morrison said he sympathised with Australians fed up with ongoing restrictions.

"I have sympathies for Australians who have had a gutful of governments telling what to do over the last two years, and I think that they have been very clear on keeping their side of the deal," he said.

Mr Morrison said "frustration" was felt by a broader swathe of Australians than represented by the protesters.

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"I think that you're making an assumption that the frustration that Australians feel, is only limited to a small group of people who have engaged in violence and threats and intimidation, and have worked against the vaccination program," he said.

"I have no sympathy with that agenda."

He said the Federal Government had consistently only called for the imposition of mandatory vaccines for people working with the country's most vulnerable people, including in aged and disability care.

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"We said in the rest of the economy, that should be up for businesses to decide," Mr Morrison said.

"It's their business and they can decide these issues. We don't think that governments should be telling them who should come in and out of their business."

He claimed that the restrictions imposed by National Cabinet during the pandemic had been "regrettably necessary", but were no longer needed when states had passed 80 per cent vaccination.