Sex could be banned in Parliament House and relationships between politicians and staff prohibited under a proposal being mulled by crossbench MPs.

The revelation that Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce is fathering a child with his now-former staffer has prompted discussions about the nature of workplace relationships in Parliament.

In an extraordinary move, the US House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to ban relationships between politicians and their employees, following a slew of harassment and misconduct claims.

The rule would restrict office relationships. Credit:Marco Del Grande

On Thursday, independent MP Cathy McGowan said Washington had set a precedent worth considering, and she would begin a consultation to bring about similar measures in Canberra.