Mr Mundine said he was supportive of nuclear energy as it was the only source of energy that "doesn't produce CO2 and works 24/7".

"I would just like to see the ban lifted so we can have a sensible debate about the technology," he said.

"We had a similar debate in South Australia several years ago... they had a community consultation process and in the end it was decided not to move forward.

"I think that's a fair process to have as you get to see the science, see the process and engineering... whether it's for or against.

"You've got to take the community with you, there's no use in steamrolling."

The comments come in light of Federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor's decision to request a parliamentary enquiry into nuclear power.

A ban on nuclear energy has been in place in Australia since 1998, the legislation prohibits anyone from operating a nuclear power plant or enrichment facility.

Gilmore MP Fiona Phillips was staunch in her opposition to nuclear power during the last federal election and addressed the issue again in her maiden speech to Parliament last Tuesday.

"Accidents happen, natural disasters happen, the risk it poses to human health are profound, let alone the risks to the reputations of our primary producers, hospitality and tourism industries that thrive on our environment," she told the lower house.

"We will fight this every day ... I will never accept a nuclear power plant being built in our community."

Mundine was reluctant to comment on Phillips restating her opposition to nuclear in her first speech.

"That's her opinion," Mr Mundine said.

"As I said I'd like to see a proper debate based on the science and at the end of the day people will make up their own mind on it.

"Today we've got an enormous problem and we need to be sensible in the way we approach it."

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Mr Mundine, who was former national president of the Australian Labor Party, said he believed some Labor MPs supported nuclear but were afraid to speak out on the topic.

He said he had not always been a supporter of nuclear energy but changed his mind after his wife was diagnosed with cancer and started to look further into the technology.

"If you asked me prior to 2000 I would have said I didn't support nuclear," he said.

"My wife had breast cancer and I was introduced to nuclear medicine... I started looking at it and thought... what was my opposition to it?

"Ninety-nine per cent of it was emotional because I grew up in the cold war era."

When asked if he was considering running in Gilmore for the next federal election Mundine did not rule the possibility out.

"I love the area, I've still got a place there... I was there last night," he said.

"I'm not ruling anything in or out at this stage except to say there is a lot of work to do to bring the party back together in the Gilmore so we can put up a good fight against Labor at the next election."