The Morrison government will intervene to back a bid to stop wharfies' industrial action across the country as supply chains face delays stretching to three weeks and some shipping lines halt deliveries of vital goods.

Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter confirmed on Monday he would support Patrick stevedores' application for urgent orders in the Fair Work Commission to stop all protected action at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Fremantle ports on the basis they threatened to cause significant damage to the economy.