The Federal Government is working on a "mandatory code of conduct" that would guide negotiations between commercial landlords and tenants seeking rental waivers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"If you sit outside the mandatory code, you are leaving yourself out in the cold," Mr Morrison told reporters in Canberra on Friday.
The code will be mandatory if tenants have a turnover of less than $50 million and are participating in the JobKeeper program.
That program requires businesses to have experienced a coronavirus-related downturn in revenue of 30 per cent to be eligible for wage subsidies.
"What is important as part of this code is that both parties negotiate in good faith," he said.
"There is a proportionality principle that needs to be in this code ... that the turnover reduction of the tenant needs to be reflected in the rental waiver of the landlord."
However, Mr Morrison said the code had not yet been finalised.
"[But] what we want to do is have landlords and tenants in the room to make sure they can work the issues out between them, to have the arrangement to get through this period and get to the other side."
St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney earlier this week. Source: Getty
He also said early modelling of the spread in Australia, which is yet to be released, was "promising and encouraging".
"We are tracking well, but we can't take that for granted."
Earlier this week, Mr Morrison announced a six-month moratorium on evictions.
Additional reporting: AAP
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others and gatherings are limited to two people unless you are with your family or household.
If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor (don’t visit) or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. If you are struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
SBS is committed to informing Australia’s diverse communities about the latest COVID-19 developments. News and information is available in 63 languages at
