Prime Minister Scott Morrison has defended travelling between Canberra and Sydney over the Father's Day weekend, despite COVID-19 lockdowns being in place.
The Prime Minister flew to Sydney on Friday on an air force jet and spent the weekend in his home city before returning to Canberra on Monday.
ACT Health authorities had granted him an exemption to return to the capital with his movement restricted to the Lodge and Parliament House.
Mr Morrison said criticism of his travel arrangements had been misguided, pointing out there were no restrictions stopping his return home to Sydney.
"I can understand people's frustration. But I do think there has been a lot of misinformation," Mr Morrison told Sky News.
"I live in Sydney. I often have to be here [in Canberra] for work. There was no exemption required for me to return home."
Mr Morrison had returned to Canberra to address the National Summit on Women’s Safety and speak with national security officials for a cabinet committee meeting.
Labor MP Bill Shorten earlier accused Mr Morrison of showing "appalling judgment" for his return to Sydney, while other families across Australia remain separated by COVID-19 restrictions.
"It's not that he doesn't deserve to see his kids, but so does every other Australian," Mr Shorten told the Nine Network on Tuesday.
"When people are doing it tough, you've got to do it tough too.
"You can't have one rule for Mr Morrison and one rule for everyone else. I just think it's appalling judgment."
Mr Morrison described the criticism as a "cheap shot".
"It’s just cheap politics," he said.
"As Prime Minister, I have a job to do and that requires me to be here."
The Prime Minister also said suggestions he had tried to cover up the travel by posting a months-old family photo to social media on Father's Day were cynical.
"We return home when we are able to return home," he said.
"There has been no special rules or exemptions provided to my family. They have remained there and have remained separated from me."
The ACT government has banned people, including Canberra residents, from crossing from Sydney and elsewhere in NSW unless they gain an exemption.
However, NSW does not block people entering the state from the ACT.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said Mr Morrison was considered an essential worker eligible for an exemption.
"The Prime Minister's role is unique in the nation and that is understood," he told reporters.
"I understand that people are very concerned about this - that's a matter for the Prime Minister to address."
With AAP.
