THE Federal Government has been asked to come clean on plans for a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory, after it voted down a motion to scrap federal powers to force the dump on the territory. 

Earlier this week, the Government scuttled a Bill in the Senate calling for the repeal of the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act. 

The Howard government passed the law in 2006, giving the Federal Government the power to impose a nuclear waste dump on the Northern Territory. 

The move outraged the Northern Territory Government, indigenous land owners and green groups, and Labor promised to scrap the laws. 

After almost 16 months in office, the Rudd Government has yet to act. 

Natalie Wasley, from the Beyond Nuclear Initiative, said yesterday it was time for Labor to "come clean" on its election commitment.