Senator Siewert has called for a rational approach to dealing with the emotive issue of nuclear waste.

"The Greens are opposed to dumping the waste in the Northern Territory because of the huge risk involved in its transport," she said.

Transporting highly radioactive material is the most risky part of the nuclear chain that leads from uranium mining to nuclear waste. The best way to reduce this risk is to keep the waste as close to the point of production as possible.

"The most sensible solution is to stop producing the waste," said Senator Siewert.

"We don't need another 'research' reactor to replace Lucas Heights," she said, "The claims that it is needed for medical isotopes are spurious - there are safer and cheaper ways available that don't produce nearly as much waste."

Senator Siewert has challenged the Federal Government to come clean on the amount of nuclear waste Australia will be expecting to produce in the future. "This dump looks like it is a foot in the door that will lead to Australia becoming a dumping ground for the world's nuclear waste, or the first step towards a domestic nuclear power industry," said Senator Siewert.

"We need to deal sensibly with the waste problem we already have in a fashion that minimises the risk," she said.

Senator Siewert also argues that it is not enough to say no to the waste dump - we need to stop the generation of waste and stop mining uranium. It is hypocritical for states and territories to profit from uranium export knowing we will be left with a massive waste problem.

"Australia needs to take responsibility for dealing with its own waste."