Labor has accused the government of pork-barrelling Barnaby Joyce's seat ahead of a possible by-election triggered by the High Court.
The deputy prime minister is one of seven MPs who could be disqualified from sitting in parliament if the High Court finds he has breached section 44 of the constitution banning dual nationals.
The accusation came as Speaker Tony Smith brought to an end the opposition's campaign to stop Mr Joyce from answering questions in parliament.
Labor has sought on a number of occasions to move Mr Joyce "no longer be heard".
Mr Smith ruled in parliament on Wednesday he would no longer accept any similar motions this week, because it was "obstructing business".
Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese quizzed Transport Minister Darren Chester on a number of road projects in Mr Joyce's seat of New England which were funded in the 2013 Labor government budget but only approved to go to tender in recent weeks by the Turnbull government.
"It is only now under political pressure and facing a possible by-election the coalition government has attempted to create the impression it is acting," Mr Albanese said.
Labor colleague Joel Fitzgibbon, whose electorate borders New England, said he could "smell the pork" from his seat.
"If the prime minister is so confident about the decision in the High Court, why is the deputy prime minister campaigning for a New England by-election?" Mr Fitzgibbon said.
"He is going to the opening of an envelope."
Mr Chester said Mr Joyce had been "an extraordinary advocate for infrastructure".
"This seat has never had better representation than what it is getting right now by the deputy prime minister," the minister said.
Responding to a Labor motion calling on Mr Joyce to stand aside from cabinet, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told parliament the opposition had no interest in issues that mattered to Australians such as energy prices and jobs.
Mr Turnbull took aim at Mr Fitzgibbon's lack of support for keeping open the Liddell coal-fired power station, calling him "no coal Joel".
