Government backbenchers pushing for change to the Racial Discrimination Act say it's time to reopen the debate now that Communications Minister and prominent moderate Malcolm Turnbull has added his support.

Mr Turnbull has extended an olive branch to the Liberal Party's right-wingers by publicly endorsing a milder proposal to reform Section 18C of the act, which conservative commentator Andrew Bolt was found to have contravened in 2011.

Malcolm Turnbull has endorsed a proposal to reform Section 18C. Credit:Andrew Meares

Mr Turnbull made the comments during his first ever appearance on Bolt's television program. The two have spectacularly clashed over the years on issues like same sex marriage, climate change and the Liberal leadership, with Bolt criticising the former leader for being too left wing. The party's right wing was instrumental in ousting Mr Turnbull from the leadership of the party in 2009 over emissions trading.

Family First senator Bob Day put forward a compromise proposal after Prime Minister Tony Abbott reneged on his election promise to repeal the act.