Prime Minister Julia Gillard is facing fresh pressure from within Labor ranks to open up the debate on nuclear energy.

Labor is opposed to the use of nuclear power in Australia, but some MPs say the issue should be debated at the party's national conference next year.

Senator Steve Hutchins, a senior member of the NSW right, says if "fringe" issues such as gay marriage are going to be debated, the use of nuclear power should also be on the table.

"I think it's only right that we discuss all alternative forms of energy," he told AM.

"At the moment we're being pressed to consider our future with being told that the globe is warming as a result of carbon pollution.

"I haven't done any canvassing [of numbers for support], and I'm pretty sure no-one has.

"All I'm suggesting is that a number of fringe issues have been suggested that should be hotly debated at the conference.

"Well, this isn't a fringe issue, this is one that is going to affect us in the future."

When asked if by "fringe issues" he meant gay marriage, Senator Hutchins replied: "Yes I do".

But he denied the move to push the issue was a "tit for tat" reaction to pressure from the left for same-sex marriage reform.

Ms Gillard says she welcomes debate at the conference but does not support nuclear power in Australia.

"In this area of policy I'd have to say anybody who's arguing to overturn our longstanding policy is setting themselves up for a pretty tough argument," she told Fairfax Radio.

"In this country, as we look at where we are today, nuclear power doesn't stack up as an economically efficient source of power."

Earlier this month, Ms Gillard brought forward the national conference to December 2011 after the party became embroiled in a debate over whether the party should change its platform and back gay marriage.

Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson will today release a report by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering which examines future energy choices for Australia.

Mr Ferguson says MPs have a right to debate the issue at the national conference.

"I actually think debate at the national conference is healthy for the party," he said.

"If nuclear is to be debated so be it."

But he says nuclear power does not stack up commercially.

"I'm more challenged at the moment about how we maintain a focus on energy security in Australia, whilst also seeking to support research and development across all our clean energy initiatives," he said.

The Greens remain opposed to nuclear energy.

"Why would you want to support a technology that risks proliferation?" Greens Senator Christine Milne said.

"It's just not the technology of the future."