New harassment protections overshadowed by Barnaby Joyce role on women's safety taskforce

The changes will also extend the amount of time people have to make a complaint to the Human Rights Commission on sexual harassment and also make explicit that the Fair Work Commission can make orders to stop sexual harassment in workplaces.

It will also make it clear that sexual harassment can be a reason for a person to be dismissed from their role.

The bill forms part of the government's response to Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins' Respect@Work report into sexual harassment in the workplace.

The bill will also allow a woman or her partner to take compassionate leave if they suffer a miscarriage.

Attorney General Michaelia Cash said the introduction of the bill built on the government's existing responses to the Jenkins report.

"Building a safe and respectful culture in all Australian workplaces is a priority for the Australian Government as demonstrated by the swift development and introduction of this legislation," she said.

But the step by the government to amend its image with women was overtaken by the revelation that new deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce will soon join a cabinet task force on women's safety and economic security.

The deputy prime minister will replace Michael McCormack after toppling him in a National Party leadership spill.

The task force was established to oversee the status of women and coordinate the government's response to two major reviews.

One review investigated workplace culture at Parliament House and responses to allegations of rape and sexual harassment, while the other recommended a new staff complaints process.

Senior cabinet minister Simon Birmingham confirmed his appointment during Question Time on Thursday.

Mr Joyce stepped down as deputy prime minister in 2018 after being accused of sexual harassment.

He fiercely denied the allegations.

At the time of his resignation, Mr Joyce was also under pressure after having an extra-marital affair with a former staffer, who he now has two children with.

Labor senator Jenny McAllister noted the former deputy prime minister was also deputy chair of cabinet's governance committee, responsible for ministerial standards and the conduct of executive members.

Senator McAllister alluded to a ban on ministers having relationships with their staff, introduced after the Joyce affair was exposed.

"Will newly appointed deputy prime minister Joyce, the only member of parliament who had his own clause in the ministerial standards, replace Mr McCormack?" she said.

Senator Birmingham said he had not seen updates to all cabinet committee arrangements, but they would be published in the ordinary way.

Senator McAllister also pointed to comments made by Nationals MP Michelle Landry before the leadership spill about some women being unhappy if Mr Joyce returned to the leadership.

"If Mr Joyce doesn't even have the confidence of his own colleagues, how can he have seat at the cabinet taskforce on the status of women?"

Senator Birmingham said the task force brought together women in cabinet with the prime minister, deputy prime minister, treasurer and finance minister.

He said members of the leadership group were on the task force to ensure it informed decisions right across government.

During Question Time in the lower house, Mr Joyce was again quizzed about his track record on working with regional women.

"Every person tries to be a better person and I am no different," Mr Joyce told parliament.

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