Australia's road to end lockdowns once 80% of the population is vaccinated against COVID-19

The country remains in the first stage of the government's four-stage plan to return to normal, which seeks to suppress the virus using lockdowns as the primary tool.

Mr Morrison says phase B, the 'transition phase', will begin when the adult population has reached 70 per cent of people fully vaccinated, and a state wanting to move to the next stage would also have reached that target.

"Lockdowns in phase B are less likely, but they are possible ... in targeted cases and more targeted cases, they may be necessary in those circumstances, but they are not something that you would normally expect because of the much higher level of vaccination and protection that exists within the country," Mr Morrison said.

But "special rules" for vaccinated people will allow them to live with fewer restrictions.