Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has been urged to fulfil an election promise to repeal legislation paving the way for a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory. The region was chosen by the Howard government for Australia's first waste facility because of its geological stability and remote terrain, far from population centres. Four sites were being considered, including Muckaty Station, about 120km north of Tennant Creek, and commonwealth defence land at Harts Range, Mount Everard and Fishers Ridge. In the lead-up to the election, the Labor Party committed to overturn the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act (CRWMA) which was passed in 2006 allowing the facility to be established. The Beyond Nuclear Initiative (BNI) questioned the new government's commitment to the promise after what it claimed were "evasive" responses from Federal Resource Minister Martin Ferguson during Senate Estimates. "The federal government is dragging its feet on this very important issue," said BNI spokeswoman Natalie Wasley. "Howard left a toxic legacy of undemocratic and secretive dealing in relation to radioactive waste management. "It is time for ALP to act on its commitment to a responsible, mature and international best practice approach to radioactive waste management in Australia." Ms Wasley said Mr Ferguson's response was "out of step" with other statements made by federal government ministers. "The CRWMA is an extraordinary piece of legislation which overrides NT laws prohibiting storage of commonwealth waste and allows for a dump site to be established even in the absence of any consultation," she said in a statement. The BNI had written to Mr Ferguson to find out when the CRWMA repeal was scheduled to occur but received "no clear response", Ms Wasley said. It called on Mr Ferguson to immediately notify affected communities, stakeholder organisations and the broader public when the legislative repeal, as indicated in ALP policy, would occur. "Prime Minister Kevin Rudd must ensure that Minister Ferguson acts in accordance with ALP commitments on this issue," it said. Comment was being sought from Mr Ferguson.