Republic not a priority for now: minister

Malcolm Turnbull has won the backing of at least one republic-minded cabinet minister who believes the push for an Australian head of state will emerge over time, but it's not a priority.

Environment Minister Greg Hunt says issues such as job creation and housing affordability are more important in the short term than pursuing becoming a republic.

"It's a matter that I think over time will emerge ... but this will be a debate that is one to develop over the medium term," he told ABC radio on Wednesday.

Fellow cabinet minister Michael Keenan says the government should be focusing on things that will tangibly improve the lives of Australians instead of becoming a republic.

"It's not really going to make a significant difference to our lives," he told ABC radio.

Frontbencher Steve Ciobo says Mr Turnbull "hit the nail on the head" by saying it's not an urgent issue.

The Liberal MP believes the republic debate will come to the forefront over time.

"But we're not going to jump every single time someone stands up and goes `quick, we need a republic today'," he told Sky News.

"It's been a hot summer. I think some people need to have a nice big, cool glass of water."

Labor frontbencher Jason Clare compared Mr Turnbull, the former head of the Australian Republican Movement, to a rocket discarding fuselage.

"He's discarded his long-held views on an emissions trading scheme, gay marriage ... and now on the republic," he said.

Nationals leader Warren Truss said he doubted Australians would ever support making a politician the head of state.

"The great strength of the monarchy is not the power it gives to an individual but the power it denies to others," he told reporters in Adelaide.

"If you take that reserve power away from the Queen, which she never exercises, you've got to give it to somebody else and that'll be a politician. I don't think the Australian people will ever be comfortable with that."