Federal ministers will be allowed in from Victoria, Barr says

"The question of backbench MPs and swathes of staffers and all the rest is a very different question from federal ministers," he said.

All parliamentarians would be considered case by case and Mr Barr said there would be a need for ministers to travel to Canberra.

"We are working with the Prime Minister's office, the leader of the opposition's office and other party leaders and across the speaker and the president of the senate around what sort of travel would be necessary and would not be," he said.

"As much as some people might disagree you could certainly argue that federal parliamentarians are performing essential work at this time."

READ MORE:

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who is in Canberra at the moment and was so as the borders closed, and Health Minister Greg Hunt are both Melbourne ministers whose jobs are central to the pandemic response.

Alan Tudge also represents a Melbourne electorate. Education Minister Dan Tehan has a coastal electorate to the west of Melbourne and Defence Personnel Minister Darren Chester to the east.

Mr Frydenberg is due to deliver a budget update in Canberra in two weeks, on July 23.

Mr Barr said in the early stages of the pandemic the parliament had operated with a minimal number of MPs for a quorum, showing it could operate without everyone being on site.

"It would make sense for some Victorian backbenchers potentially from either side to pair each other and not have to come up to Canberra for the August sittings but we'll look at this on a case by case basis."

Four federal parliamentarians, including Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton have had coronavirus.

About 60 of the 151 lower House MPs stayed away in the March sittings.

Parliament House reopened to the public for booked tours last weekend.