Australia takes action over Myanmar coup

Australia has suspended military co-operation with Myanmar and redirected aid to non-government organisations in response to escalating violence following last month's military coup.

Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne is continuing to call for the release of Australian academic Sean Turnell, who has been detained in Yangon for more than 30 days.

The government has raised grave concerns about the deadly protests that have occurred since the military seized power from democratically elected Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1.

"We seek a return to democracy," Senator Payne told reporters on Monday.

"We seek absolutely the cessation of any armed violence against unarmed peaceful protesting civilians."

Professor Turnell was an economics adviser to Ms Suu Kyi.

Senator Payne said he'd spoken to his family in the past 10 days in addition to a small amount of consular access being provided.

"We do not accept the conditions of his detention and the reasons for his detention," she said.

"In everything we are doing, we are seeking Professor Turnell's release."

Senator Payne said Australia had spoken to other countries, particularly regional neighbours such as Japan and India, about their own policies towards Myanmar.

Australia is suspending its defence co-operation program with Myanmar's military, which helped with non-combat areas such as English language training.

"Australia's development program is also being redirected to the immediate humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable and poor including the Rohingyas and other ethnic minorities," Senator Payne said.

Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong said it had been a month since Labor had called for the government to review Australia's military program with Myanmar.

"In that time we've seen an escalation in violence and repression," she said.

"It has been clear since this coup took place that Australia's defence co-operation program with Myanmar was inappropriate given the deplorable military violence against civilians."

The United Nations says security forces have killed more than 50 people to stamp out daily demonstrations and strikes in the Southeast Asian nation since the military overthrew and detained Ms Suu Kyi.

Well over 1700 people have been detained under the military junta.

Amnesty International Australia has welcomed the federal government's decision but is calling for more targeted sanctions against senior officials.

"The Myanmar military has a well-documented history of violence and grave human rights violations," director Sam Klintworth said.

"Without justice and accountability, Myanmar's emboldened military will continue to trample human rights across the country."