When the rebel is away, Joyce will play

You know you're missed when the boss makes jokes about you on live television.

With outspoken Nationals MP George Christensen taking an early mark from parliament to travel home to his cyclone-ravaged North Queensland electorate, the deputy prime minister couldn't help himself.

After Mr Christensen previously threatened to part ways with the coalition over perceived inaction over a long-running sugar dispute, Barnaby Joyce was pleased to see his colleague was happy with the announcement of a code of conduct.

"George Christensen has said that he welcomes it," he said in Canberra on Thursday.

"I might note George Christensen is not here with us today and so we're going to get a whole heap of legislation through," Mr Joyce went on to joke, surrounded by fellow Nationals.

"Whilst George is away, we will have a very active parliament, we'll be here until early tomorrow morning.

"No, it's great to see George up there doing what he is supposed to be doing and looking after his people with the prime minister (and) leader of the opposition."

Mr Christensen last month stood down from his position as Nationals whip, who is meant to enforce parliamentary discipline.

He claimed some of his colleagues may have been aggrieved that the enforcer of discipline was being somewhat ill-disciplined himself.