Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce says a worker who expresses religious views may be a "pain in the arse" or "dopey", but they don't deserve to be sacked.

Mr Joyce was among 20 coalition backbenchers who discussed draft religious discrimination laws with Attorney-General Christian Porter on Friday.

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The former Nationals leader wants the laws to ensure that employees can't be fired for expressing religious beliefs, using Rugby Australia's decision to sack Israel Folau over anti-gay social media posts as an example.

“I think a lot of what Israel Folau said is completely and utterly dopey, but it’s his right to be dopey,” Mr Joyce told ABC radio on Monday.

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Folau is contesting his sacking and the case is set to be heard in the Federal Court.

Mr Joyce said it would be different if a person's beliefs affected their work, suggesting if Folau was a school counsellor his sacking would be more justified.

“If there is a nexus between what you do and what you say then there is a question as to whether you can do the job.

"But if there is no nexus, in this case a man who is employed to run very fast, carry a white ball, jump high, place it on the other side of an arbitrary line on a paddock, what does it matter what their views are?”

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The draft laws, set to be introduced to Parliament next month, are expected to mirror existing sex discrimination laws, rather than a new religious freedom act as some coalition MPs have been pushing for.

Asked if it would be acceptable for a Muslim plumber who repeatedly told colleagues they were going to hell for being divorced to be sacked, Mr Joyce said that would be annoying but not a sackable offence.

“If he wants to be a total pain in the arse that’s his right if he’s a plumber. We’ve got people who are a pain in the arse, they’re in every office. But we can’t just go round sacking them because they’re annoying.”