Labor wants to delay votes over Joyce saga

Labor is threatening to heap more pain on the Turnbull government unless Barnaby Joyce stands aside until his citizenship status is resolved.

If the deputy prime minister doesn't abstain from voting in the lower house when MPs return to Canberra in a fortnight's time, Labor will seek to have all votes deferred until the High Court rules on his eligibility, which could take months.

"I accept and support that there is business of government that needs to be done, but I don't believe we can be in a situation where bills are being sponsored by somebody where we don't know whether he's even allowed to legally be a member of parliament," opposition frontbencher Tony Burke told parliament on Thursday.