With the government being challenged on so many fronts, Mr Morrison will shift Attorney-General Christian Porter to a new job in cabinet to avoid conflicts of interest on legal affairs while he sues the ABC for defamation over its coverage of a claim he raped a woman in 1988, a claim he denies.

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Defence Minister Linda Reynolds will also be moved within cabinet due to health concerns, with Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton tipped to replace her and Government Services Minister Stuart Robert named as a potential appointment to home affairs.

Liberal MPs Bridget Archer and Russell Broadbent have called on the government to hold a summit on women, an idea also backed by Queensland Women’s Legal Service chief Angela Lynch who says “they need an immediate plan of action”.

The planned event is meant to include federal and state leaders as well as dozens of others, along the lines of a summit held in October 2018.

One of the options for the government is to broaden the event to other policies, given the calls on Mr Morrison for action on harassment and discrimination.

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The Council of Australian Governments National Summit on Reducing Violence Against Women and their Children prepared the ground for a $328 million spending program announced in March 2019.

That spending runs out next year and will have to be replaced by a fifth national action plan, to be discussed at a new summit and agreed in draft form with the states in the months ahead.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack will tell the federal Nationals conference on Saturday the Parliament “has been mired in the behaviour of those who do not represent our values” and that had been “gut-wrenching” for all.

“Behaviour of this nature needs to stop. We need to respect each other, why we have been sent to Canberra and what we were sent here to do,” he will say, according to an excerpt of his draft speech.

“No person, should ever feel unsafe in their workplace. No person should tolerate harassment or behaviour they feel inappropriate.

“We can all do better and we must do better.”

The Morrison government is following up information about the identities of staffers involved in obscene acts in Parliament House but has not yet confirmed who they are.

One staff member was sacked on Monday night after Ten News reported he and colleagues had shared lewd images and videos, including of himself performing a sex act on a female MP’s desk.

The Prime Minister said on Friday the government now had some information regarding the other people involved but he wouldn’t provide “a running commentary” on the investigation.

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“This is a very serious issue and I want to thank the individual who we reached out to and asked them through an intermediary to come forward and be able to give us information,” he said.

“With anything as sensitive as this, it’s important that follows now a proper process to look into these matters.

“Australians should know that we’re taking this extremely seriously and following up on all of that information that has been provided to us.”

At least one of the people involved is believed to have left employment in Parliament House before the reports became public.

A person identifying themselves as the whistleblower who spoke with Ten News has said on Twitter they have been in contact with Finance Minister Simon Birmingham’s chief of staff and the office of Labor frontbencher Kristina Keneally regarding the reports.

Ms Higgins made a formal complaint to Mr Morrison’s chief of staff on Thursday claiming his office was briefing journalists against her and her loved ones.

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Mr Morrison told Nine’s A Current Affair someone who had witnessed the so-called backgrounding had also spoken with his chief of staff.

“We’re now dealing with that through the way you deal with complaints against staff members in this place,” he said. “This is not something I would ever condone.”

He has offered to meet Ms Higgins if she wishes.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese accused Mr Morrison of not giving a straight answer about the matter.

“He should ask his chief of staff what they knew. He should ask his own office and should just say what happened with the undermining of Brittany Higgins’ loved ones that she had to write to him about yesterday,” he said.

If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline 131 114, or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636. For help in a crisis call 000.