Australia's Resources and Energy Minister, Martin Ferguson, says parliament is set to pass laws that could see Australia's first nuclear waste dump built in the Northern Territory.

A small group of protesters confronted Martin Ferguson at the Sydney Institute last night over the latest in more than twenty years of plans to build a nuclear waste dump. 

Mr Ferguson had bad news for them.

"I have had discussions with the coalition and all being well there is now a maturity in the debate which means we will now pass legislation supported by the major political parties in Australia," he said.

But an opposition spokesman says Labor foiled the Howard government's plans for a nuclear dump and it's too early to talk of supporting the new legislation. 

The government is considering a site north of Tennant Creek put forward by the Northern Land Council.