A LAW that can force a radioactive waste dump on to Central Australia is "irrelevant'' now that the Commonwealth Government promised to repeal it.

Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson told ABC Radio yesterday morning that the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act would be repealed -- but he wouldn't say when.

And because he said it would be repealed, he said the Act was irrelevant.

Mr Ferguson said he wanted to replace the Act with a law that recognises the need for consultation and the responsibility of Australia to handle its radioactive waste appropriately.

The CRWMA was the subject of a Bill introduced in the Senate by Greens Senator Scott Ludlum to repeal the Act last year.