Coalition backbenchers will seek to change environmental approval rules to allow for nuclear power.
Nationals senator Sam McMahon plans to make the change by amending a bill to streamline environmental approvals, set to be considered in the Senate on Wednesday .
Nuclear power is currently banned in Australia.
Senator McMahon has the backing of fellow Nationals backbencher Matt Canavan, having raised the issue in the coalition party room on Tuesday.
The bill itself faces a rough ride through the Senate, with the government still one vote short of passing it.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson's party intends to give the government two of the three votes it needs.
"One Nation has long called for a cut to the multi-layered red tape that has been crippling environmental approval processes across Australia in agriculture, mining and development," Senator Hanson told AAP.
She said the changes were supported by premiers and chief ministers and would make it harder for activists to stall projects.
"For the first time ever, the regulation spells out a clear set of guidelines to meet the requirements of the EPBC Act," Senator Hanson said.
Centre Alliance senator Stirling Griff, and independents Rex Patrick and Jacqui Lambie, earlier this year signalled their opposition to the changes.
They argued an independent watchdog and tougher environment standards must be stamped into law before any other changes are considered.
Environment Minister Sussan Ley's office said the government was committed to its environmental reform agenda and it remained listed for debate.
