Federal Coalition frontbencher Ian MacFarlane says he doubts that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will be able to meet Australia's emissions reduction targets without turning to nuclear energy.

Mr MacFarlane has urged the Labor Party to get over its aversion to nuclear energy.

He says the technology has developed enough to make the creation of nuclear power safer than coal-fired energy.

Mr MacFarlane says he is unsure why Mr Rudd is happy to sell uranium to China and Russia, but will not use it in Australia.

"He's not prepared to allow Australia to use that same uranium to lower our greenhouse gas emissions," he said.

"Kevin Rudd has to be honest with Australia. How is he going to lower the emissions in Australia to comply with an emissions trading scheme and still keep the economy growing?"