Former prime minister John Howard has dismissed as "very unwise" a call for parliament to be suspended until the dual-citizenship row engulfing federal MPs is resolved.

"Governments are criticised for being distracted. That would be the ultimate distraction - to prorogue parliament," he told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.

"We should continue with the business of government."

Australian Conservative senator Cory Bernardi, who made the suggestion, warned about a lack of confidence in politics.

The High Court, sitting as the Court of Disputed Returns, will hear the referred cases of politicians with dual-citizenship on August 24.

The Australian Constitution stipulates MPs cannot be citizens of another country.