THE Rudd Government has ruled out accepting international nuclear waste, but says it is considering a continued role in an international forum as part of its global efforts against the proliferation of atomic weapons.

The Australian revealed yesterday that cabinet is considering Australia's continued participation in US President George W. Bush's Global Nuclear Energy Partnership and the international collaboration to design the next generation of nuclear reactions.

This consideration comes despite Labor claims before the election -- when the Howard government signed Australia on to the GNEP -- that membership could force Canberra to establish uranium enrichment plants and accept the world's nuclear waste.

Resources Minister Martin Ferguson, who along with Industry Minister Senator Kim Carr is preparing the cabinet paper, yesterday "categorically ruled out" both Australian uranium enrichment and accepting other country's radioactive waste.

Government sources said the Government was considering continued involvement in the GNEP as part of its global efforts to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons and material. Neither Mr Ferguson nor Senator Carr would comment further on the issue because it is before cabinet.

The GNEP aims to restrict countries enriching uranium to the existing powers -- the US, Britain, China, Russia and France -- allowing low emissions nuclear fuel to be shipped to other nations, with the waste then repatriated for disposal in the fuel supplying countries.