Prime Minister Scott Morrison has come under fire for flying from Canberra to Sydney to spend time with his family over the Father's Day weekend.
While many people across the country were unable to spend Father's Day with family members due to COVID restrictions and state border closures, the PM reportedly got an exemption from ACT authorities to travel to Sydney to be reunited with his wife and children.
The federal MP for Cook has chosen to base himself at the Sydney home of the PM, Kirribilli House. However, COVID restrictions have meant he has had to stay in Canberra's The Lodge for much of the past few months as he needs to be in Canberra when Parliament is sitting and cannot travel back and forth due to strict quarantine requirements.
Wife Jenny and daughters Abbey and Lily have elected to stay in Sydney.
Mr Morrison wrote an emotional post on his Facebook page on Father's Day and shared a photo he said was taken earlier in the year but did not mention he was spending the day with his family.
He wrote: "Being a Dad is a special gift that we are given in life. It is a great blessing in our lives.
"On the day this photo was taken of our family together earlier this year, I was reminded of just how precious that gift it is.
"To all the Dads, have a great day and never forget how fortunate we are to have the tremendous opportunity to love, cherish and care for our kids."
The Canberra Times reported Mr Morrison flew from Canberra to Sydney for the weekend and returned on Monday morning.
It said under ACT restrictions; non-residents are not permitted to enter the ACT unless an exemption is obtained beforehand.
Those granted an exemption must follow stay-at-home requirements except to undertake essential work if they cannot work remotely.
Health authorities will consider exemptions for parliamentarians entering the ACT for essential parliamentary business outside of sitting weeks, under the territory's restrictions.
Federal MPs who arrived in Canberra to attend the most recent parliamentary sittings in person were also quarantined under restrictions set by the ACT government.
The Leader has asked the Prime Minister's office to comment.
