Nationals MP Luke Hartsuyker has become the latest government backbencher to declare his interest in a banking royal commission.

Last week Labor called on the government to hold the national inquiry, and promised to do the same if elected.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and a number of his frontbench colleagues have played down the importance of holding a royal commission, with one minister calling it a Labor “stunt”.

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But the backbencher is split over the worth of a royal commission.

Government backbenchers John Williams, Warren Entsch and George Christensen have already backed the probe and want the Turnbull government to take the lead.

Mr Hartsuyker, who was dumped from the frontbench in the latest ministerial reshuffle, told Fairfax Media it was “definitely something that should be considered”.

Another Nationals MP Ken O’Dowd said he was “open to the idea” but wanted to see more evidence to show whether it was needed.

He echoed concerns raised by the Treasurer Scott Morrison about the potential for an inquiry to damage the reputation of the nation’s biggest banks overseas.

But, Nationals member for the Victorian seat of Mallee Andrew Broad is not in favour.

“I think we need to be very careful of trying to fall into a class warfare mentality that says the banks are somehow bad and therefore we need a royal commission into them,” he said

– ABC