The Australian Greens say Resources Minister Martin Ferguson misled the Northern Territory and all Australians by failing to reveal that his government's new National Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010 overrides the rights of states and territories.

Senator LUDLAM (Western Australia) (3.31 pm)-I move:

That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (Senator Carr) to a question without notice asked by Senator Ludlam today relating to a nuclear waste dump.

The Government has foreshadowed the introduction of legislation to repeal the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act, but left Muckaty Station outside Tenant Creek as the most likely target for the national radioactive waste dump.

Senator LUDLAM (2.26 pm)-Mr President, my question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Resources and Energy, Senator Carr. Today Minister Martin Ferguson announced that fairness had been restored to the process for selecting a national radioactive waste dump site. Can the minister confirm that the nomination of Muckaty Station as a site for the dump was only possible under the Radioactive Waste Management Legislation Amendment Act 2006, which the ALP opposed and described at the time as a major attack on the rights of traditional owners and an abuse of power?

In a calculated breach of a clear election commitment, the Rudd government looks set to impose a radioactive waste dump on the Northern Territory and provoke a major confrontation.

"On the basis of information we have received and from last week's Senate estimates hearings, it now appears that the Government will attempt to force the dump project on to Muckaty Station near Tennant Creek," said Scott Greens Senator Scott Ludlam.

Senator LUDLAM-Could we call the officers responsible for radioactive waste management? I will start  with a general question. Please provide us with an update of the status of your work in progressing a national radioactive waste facility for Australia?

Mr Davoren-I am pleased to say, Senator, that we are actually drafting legislation to repeal the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act 2005 and replace it with other legislation.

Senator Ludlam asked:

Senator Ludlam asked: