The Australian Greens will move an amendment to the national radioactive waste dump legislation, seeking consent from the Northern Territory Assembly before moving to dump radioactive waste in the Territory.

"The proposal to dump radioactive waste highlights the fact that the Northern Territory does not have the same rights to determine its own affairs as the states," Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said.

"The Commonwealth knows very well that it would be more difficult to force the radioactive dump on a State, and that is one reason it is targeting the Territory.

"This move complements the Greens proposed legislation which aims to remove the Ministerial override of legislation passed by the Territory Assemblies."

Debate on the radioactive waste dump legislation has begun in the Senate, and will resume when Parliament resumes later in March.