Liberal frontbencher Christopher Pyne has dismissed a new push for a republic, launched by his party colleague Malcolm Turnbull and Labor's Wayne Swan, as a "distraction".

Mr Turnbull, who also sits on the Coalition frontbench, was a founding member of the Australian Republican Movement and its chairman in the lead up to the unsuccessful 1999 referendum on the issue.

This morning he joined deputy prime minister Wayne Swan to launch a collection of essays arguing for Australia to become a republic.

But Mr Pyne says voters are not interested.

"You have to be in a particular kind of bubble, as Wayne Swan obviously is, if you think that the public want a debate right now about the republic," he said.

However Mr Turnbull has agreed with Mr Swan's argument that a new debate is "overdue".

"I'm very positive about the republican cause," the Liberal frontbencher said.

"I agree with Wayne Swan that it's always a good time to talk about our constitution. People say, 'Oh we shouldn't be talking about our constitution' - that's ridiculous.

Sorry, this video has expired Malcolm Turnbull launches republican essays

"Of course there are more immediate issues - we're not going to fight the election on this issue, this is not going to be what determines the fate of the Labor government; it's not going to be even on the radar screen.

"But we should always be alert to and interested in our constitution."

Deputy Prime Minister Mr Swan said he wanted Labor party policy to set out a two-stage process towards a republic, beginning with a plebiscite on the best model, followed by another referendum.

"We've had a decade of inertia and I think the time has come, and I believe sooner rather than later we have to begin the journey towards a plebiscite," he said.

Mr Turnbull believes the best time will be after the end of the current Queen's reign.

"There's got to be the sense that this is an issue of the hour, and it isn't an issue of the hour for determination at least for most Australians today," he said.

"There's no point having another referendum that's going to be lost.

"I think our best chance of having a referendum which could win would be after the end of the Queen's reign."

Mr Pyne has rejected conjecture that the issue has been raised to highlight divisions on the Coalition frontbench.

"I don't think it's been raised as a wedge issue, I think it's been raised as a distraction from the hopelessness of the Government," he said.

Sorry, this video has expired Swan outlines case for Australian republic

"Malcolm Turnbull hasn't said that the republic should be a first order issue after the election.

"Wayne Swan has said if Labor is re-elected Labor will make the republic a first order issue.

"I think that is extraordinary that Labor is so out of touch with what working men and women want in Australia that he would think it was a high priority for any new government."

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, who is a former leader of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy and remains an avowed monarchist, has dismissed the push.

"As far as I'm concerned the only referendum that counts is the referendum on September 14 on a very bad government," he said.