Prime Minister Scott Morrison has told people to stop hoarding supplies, saying he is disappointed at the "un-Australian" panic buying being driven by fears around the coronavirus pandemic.

Key points: Mr Morrison said there was no reason for shoppers to hoard goods

Mr Morrison said there was no reason for shoppers to hoard goods He urged Australians to use their common sense and not abuse staff

He urged Australians to use their common sense and not abuse staff The CEO of Woolworths said there was no food shortage

Many shelves in supermarkets across the country have been stripped bare by people rushing to stock up on supplies and essentials.

"On bulk purchasing of supplies: Stop hoarding. I can't be more blunt about it. Stop it," Mr Morrison said.

"It is not sensible, it is not helpful and it has been one of the most disappointing things I have seen in Australian behaviour in response to this crisis.

"That is not who we are as a people. It is not necessary. It is not something that people should be doing."

Mr Morrison said there was no reason for people to be clearing the shelves of supermarkets in fear of a lockdown.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 47 seconds 47 s Customers queue outside a Costco in Sydney on Wednesday.

"I am seeking Australia's common sense cooperation with these very clear advisory positions. Stop doing it. It's ridiculous. It's un-Australian, and it must stop," he said.

"I would ask people to do the right thing by each other in getting a handle on these sorts of practices."

The PM also urged people to be patient and not take their annoyance out on supermarket workers.

"Do not abuse staff. We're all in this together," he said.

Both Coles and Woolworths have implemented dedicated shopping hours for pensioners and people with disabilities, but some shoppers say they have turned up only to find the shelves are already empty.

Shoppers at Coles in Brighton-Le-Sands, in Sydney's south, left empty handed this morning after waiting for up to an hour to buy goods such as toilet paper, pasta and rice.

Aldi has also announced new opening hours to allow staff time to restock shelves and clean stores.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 40 seconds 40 s Shoppers leave a supermarket angry they cannot buy the things they need.

NSW Police say officers from some stations are conducting patrols near supermarkets as customers flock to major chains to purchase essential items.

A police spokeswoman said while there had been no recent reports of assaults or emergency calls to specific shops, local police were conducting general duties and "tasking" outside some supermarkets.

Customers have queued outside supermarkets for items that aren't available. ( Antonette Collins )

No food shortage, surge buying the reason for empty shelves

Brad Banducci, the CEO of the Woolworths group, told ABC Radio Melbourne there was no shortage of food in Australia.

He said shelves were empty because of an incredible "surge buying" spree.

"We have enough product in Australia to feed all of our customers," he told Mornings host Virginia Trioli.

"There are no fundamental shortages that we're seeing right now.

"If we all buy what we need and treat our team with respect, we will rapidly get back into full supply, or 99 per cent supply, of most of the products our customers have come to enjoy."