The former leader of The Nationals, Barnaby Joyce, is pushing for the publicly backed emissions reduction corporation to invest in new fossil fuel projects.

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) is the "green bank" that has $10 billion to invest on behalf of the Australian government in projects that help the nation transition to lower emissions.

Mr Joyce revealed in Parliament that he has put forward an amendment to the government's own legislation for the CEFC that would allow it to invest in "high intensity, low emissions coal-fired power".

The outspoken backbencher recently warned the Prime Minister against committing to carbon neutrality by the middle of the century, and advocated for agriculture and manufacturing to be carved out of any deal.

In his speech, Mr Joyce warned the Parliament was falling victim to the "quasi religion" of not being allowed to mention coal.

He has urged Labor politicians representing coal mining electorates to support his changes, warning they will face the wrath of voters otherwise.

"You can't say you support the coal industry, but you don't support the use of coal," he said.

Mr Joyce said it was important to note he had "no problems" with the path to cleaner energy.

"That's logical," he told Parliament.

During the speech he was heckled by other politicians about whether there would be any appetite to create new fossil fuel power stations.

"But they've got to have that opportunity."

Mr Joyce said he acknowledged he would attract the "umbrage" of some of his own government colleagues for putting the pro-coal pitch forward, but said fossil fuels were the nation's biggest export.

"If we are going to say that we believe it is right and just to export it to the rest of the world — as I do," he said.

"Surely it is logical that you would also produce the best technology and the most efficient technology to use it, and stand by that product by saying we will build it in Australia.

"We will show you how to use it best."