Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced at the weekend the next sitting fortnight due next month would be cancelled on the advice of acting Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly.

Professor Kelly said there was a significant risk of politicians being in Canberra, due to increased community transmission of COVID-19 in Melbourne and the trends in Sydney.

"Obviously it is frustrating, but the PM is acting directly on the medical advice," Ms Ley said.

"The last thing we need our federal parliament to be doing is creating any chance of this virus spreading further.

"Much of my work as an MP can be done through phone or zoom meetings these days, so as a local MP that doesn't stop regardless of travel restrictions."

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Dr Haines, a federal cross-bencher, hoped other sitting weeks could be created later in the year.

"My my view right through covid is we need to act on the advice of the chief medical officers," she said.

"But what I would hope to see happen though is the scheduling of some additional sitting weeks to make up for that loss of time.

"Maybe there is an opportunity in September.

"We need to find a way to continue with our democracy in the light of current circumstances and covid is not going away anytime soon.

"We need to find other ways to get on with the business of parliament."

Parliament is not due to return until August 24.

"It is not feasible nor desirable to hold a sitting of parliament that would exclude parliamentarians from a single state," Mr Morrison said.