Scott Morrison condemns anti vax protests but has ‘sympathy’ with cause

Scott Morrison has revealed why he has sympathy with anti-government protests in Melbourne.

Scott Morrison says he has sympathy with the cause behind an anti-government protest in Melbourne but insists he couldn't have been clearer in condemning the violence.

Labor has accused the Prime Minister of failing to unequivocally condemn the violent protesters, who over the weekend wheeled out makeshift gallows with nooses attached.

But Mr Morrison rubbished suggestion he did not denounce the violence.

“I couldn’t have been clearer about denounciating [sic] the violence and the threats and the intimidation,” he said on Friday.

“They have no place in Australia’s public policy debate whatsoever.Whatsoever!”

Scott Morrison has rejected criticism he failed to condemn anti-government protests in Melbourne. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

“I have consistently said all the way through that there is a deal with Australians. And that deal with Australians, we said, and particularly as we saw here in New South Wales – we said ‘Come forward and get vaccinated’.

“Victorians did that. In the ACT, they’ve done that. And in Queensland and Western Australia, we’re increasingly seeing that.”

Asked if he had sympathy for the protesters, Mr Morrison said he did have sympathy for those who have had a “gutful of government’s telling them what to do”.

“Australians have done their part. It’s now time for them to be able to step forward with their lives and for governments to step back out of their lives,” he said.

Reporters at the press conference and Sydney pressed Mr Morrison, seeking to clarify his comments.

Protesters camp out at the Victorian parliament. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“So you have sympathy for their frustration but not their actions, is that what you’re saying?,” a reporter asked.

“I have no sympathy with that agenda. But for the broader view of Australians who have done the right thing and got vaccinated, and want to come together again and want their lives back and want governments to stop telling what to do and them stepping forward in their own future.

“That’s the cause I have sympathy with.”