Federal Resources Minister MARTIN FERGUSON says Labor will stand by an election promise to scrap legislation that paves the way for a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory.

But he's refused to say when that will happen .. or when cabinet will be handed the recommendations from a scientific report into the most suitable site.

There've been concerns the Labor government wouldn't repeal the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act .. after it voted down a motion to scuttle the law earlier this year.

Mr FERGUSON says Labor won't be giving up its search for a site.