The Ranger Mine is exempt from the Bill because it has its own deal with the Federal Government.

A Senate committee has heard from environmentalists who are opposed to changing the way uranium royalties are levied in the Northern Territory.

Hearings into the proposed changes started in Darwin this afternoon.

At present, the royalties are negotiated on a case-by-case basis, but the proposals would see royalties levied at 18 per cent of the mine's profits.

Conservation Foundation spokesman Dave Sweeney says the changes should give Aboriginal people the choice to oppose uranium mining on their land as well as addressing royalties.

"If the justification for this bill is that it will bring benefit to Aboriginal communities, shouldn't the first step be asking the communities if they want it?" he said. "Shouldn't that be the first question that is asked?

"Rather than assuming, rather than dictating, rather than imposing - ask."

Mr Sweeney told senators not to treat uranium like other minerals in the Northern Territory.

"Whilst [the Government] is trying to clear the decks and make uranium like any other mineral, we say very clearly it's not," he said.

"There is no other mineral linked with such significant weapons and proliferation and security risks.

"There is no other mineral that creates such long-lived waste. So it's not business as usual."

Meanwhile, traditional owners of the Ranger Mine land say the changes will compromise the livelihood of Aboriginal land holders.

Ranger is exempt from the Bill because it has its own deal with the Federal Government whereby the royalties are charged based on revenue.

Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation spokesman Justin O'Brien says the revenue-based system is less risky.

"Whether or not the mining company is making a profit, traditional owners are making a profit," he said.

"Traditional owners receive an economic benefit because while that operation is happening, they are precluded from accessing their country.