A TERRITORY politician has warned the Territory might have to take a nuclear dump for the good of the country. 

Solomon MHR Damian Hale (pictured) yesterday repeated the Federal Government's promise to pick a site "according to the science''. 

"Unfortunately, the science could say the best site is here,'' he said.

"I'm on the record saying I don't particularly want it in the Northern Territory but, having said that, we are part of Australia and there has to be a discussion at the national level.'' 

Labor promised at the 2007 election to repeal the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act, which allows the government to force a nuclear dump in the Territory. 

They also promised not to build the site in the Territory - but Mr Hale seemingly backed away from that commitment yesterday and said the government was focused on repealing the waste management legislation before discussing a site. 

Scientific surveys had previously determined the best site for the ump was in Roxby Downs in South Australia - but Mr Hale said South Australia was able to say "no'' because the states had a "constitutional strength'' and added: "We should also have the ability, as the Territory, to say no and it shouldn't be thrust upon us. I think Territorians have the right to be treated like all Australians and I think there has to be a fair process''. 

Mines Minister Martin Ferguson last year also suggested that a Territory site could be selected "in the national interest'', but promised to consult the community first. 

Mr Hale hinted that the southern states were not co-operating with negotiations to build the dump elsewhere. "If the states want to put their head in the sand and pretend it is not their problem, they are not doing the right thing by us,'' he said. 

"It is a whole of Australia problem. Everyone creates radioactive waste".

The Federal Government has spent 15 years trying to find a site to bury the low and medium level nuclear waste due to return from France and Scotland from 2011. 

The Howard government had nominated four sites in the NT, including three Commonwealth Defence sites and Muckaty Station, about 120km north of Tennant Creek.