Turnbull revs up coalition party room

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has geed up government troops ahead of the last scheduled parliamentary sitting week before the May budget.

Mr Turnbull told an "upbeat and positive" joint coalition partyroom meeting on Tuesday morning the government's top priority was having parliament approve changes to the way Australians vote for the Senate.

"It's all about democracy - the only people who benefit from these changes are the Australian voters, they will determine where their preferences go," the prime minister said.

He ruled out changes to the government's legislative agenda this week as Senate crossbenchers failed in their attempt to bring forward a vote on a bill to restore the building and construction industry watchdog.

Mr Turnbull described Labor's plan to limit tax breaks for property investors as the "the most sweeping peace-time restriction of economic freedom" that he could recall.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce urged MPs to speak to local accountants in their electorates to learn how constituents would be affected by the proposed changes to negative gearing.

Mr Joyce, who is facing a challenge in his northern NSW seat by former independent Tony Windsor, also spoke of the support he was encountering from voters.

Farmers, motel workers, hairdressers and people from all walks of life said they would help him retain New England.

The party room discussed efforts to promote Australian tourism destinations, in particular far north Queensland, as well as concerns about the road safety watchdog's order for minimum pay rates for long-haul truck drivers.

Government MPs are worried about the ruling's impact on owner-operator truck drivers.

Mr Turnbull also welcomed 28-year-old rookie Victorian senator James Paterson to the fold.

He replaces the retiring former minister Michael Ronaldson.