Brisbane's Courier Mail says the Australian Government is pushing ahead with plans to build a nuclear dump offshore, and is refusing to rule out Nauru as a potential site.
The paper reports the Science Minister Brendan Nelson saying the Government would also pick a back-up remote onshore location in case the island option failed.
An announcement on both locations is expected within months.
Dr Nelson says Australia needs a long-term dump for its intermediate and low-level radioactive waste.
He says Canberra is currently examining an offshore facility and will also look at an onshore facility in a remote location in case the offshore facility is not suitable.
Dr Nelson would not reveal whether Nauru was being considered, saying only that any offshore site will need to meet all criteria and all international treaty obligations to which Australia is a signatory.
