THE Greens are trying to block a a nuclear waste dump in the Territory.

Greens Senator Scott Ludlam has introduced draft legislation which would repeal laws allowing the dump to be forced on the NT.

Labor is yet to fulfil an election promise made 12 months ago to repeal the laws covering a possible nuclear dump in the NT.

Senator Ludlam said he suspected the Rudd Government would press ahead with former prime minister John Howard's plans for a dump in the Territory.

The Greens bill would give the Territory greater powers to veto plans to build a dump at one of four outback sites.

"I don't buy the argument at all that we need a remote dump," Senator Ludlam said.

"All we've had since the 1970s is the debate about which remote Aboriginal community should get the dump and that's just not appropriate these days."

Territory Labor Senator Trish Crossin tore up a copy of the NT's Self-Government Act when the Howard government first introduced laws covering a nuclear dump in 2005.

CLP Senator Nigel Scullion attacked Senator Crossin as a hypocrite for not backing the Greens bill.

"She now has the perfect opportunity to be true to her word and support The Greens with their legislation to repeal the act, but she refuses to support it," he said.

Senator Crossin said the Government would eventually repeal the legislation as part of a "comprehensive package".

"What the Greens are suggesting is we should just simply repeal legislation and go 'well, what's next?'," she said.

"What we're going to do is provide a comprehensive holistic response to this issue."

Science Minister Senator Kim Carr said the Government would finalise its own legislation before repealing the existing law.

"The government will not be taking piecemeal steps or making ad hoc decisions on radioactive waste management.

"We want a total package to solve this problem once and for all.

"We will base future decisions about waste management on solid, agreed science and we will not be making decisions without proper consultations with state and territory governments and local communities."

Senator Carr said Australia needed a waste repository because radioactive materials were being kept "in filing cabinets".

"This is Australia's waste and it is up to us to actually do something about it."