PETER Slipper can keep his passport current after being nominated by the government for the prestigious parliamentary foreign affairs committee.

Robert McClelland, who was dumped from the ministry earlier this year, agreed to stand aside and join the privileges committee to make way for Mr Slipper.

Government Whip Joel Fitzgibbon nominated Mr Slipper yesterday after the former speaker, who resigned last month after obscene texts in which he likened female genitalia to mussels, were made public.

Mr Slipper is continuing to fight claims of sexual harassment in a Federal Court case brought by former staffer James Ashby and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions is still examining his use of Cabcharges amid allegations of rorting.

MPs on the foreign affairs committee can expect to travel in delegations overseas.

Mr Fitzgibbon said he was pleased to be able to help Mr Slipper dedicate himself to committee work.

"Because Peter was speaker, he isn't on any committees, every member should be on a committee," he said.

"I am not surprised he expressed an interest in foreign affairs, it has always been an area of interest for him. I was very pleased I was able to provide him with that opportunity."

Mr Slipper resigned his post of speaker three weeks ago, months after he had stood down from his duties controlling the house of representatives while he contested the sexual harassment claims.

He took a pay cut of almost $150,000 and lost his suite of offices in parliament house and an executive office in Brisbane.

The coveted position on the foreign affairs committee does not attract a higher salary.

Mr Slipper is one of the most well-travelled MPs in parliament.

Even when he was benched from the speaker's chair he travelled around the world on official business.

He had planned to lead a delegation to Argentina last month but was forced to withdraw from the travel group after he resigned his speaker post.

Originally published as Disgraced Slipper's back in the jet set