Brian Martin steps down from juvenile detention royal commission

Former Northern Territory chief justice Brian Ross Martin has stood down as head of a royal commission into the territory's youth detention.

Following accusations of a conflict of interest over his daughter's employment as an adviser to the former NT attorney-general, Justice Martin said on Monday he would step away from the seven-month inquiry.

Questions were raised whether Justice Martin had a personal conflict, given he may have sentenced young people involved in the inquiry who were potentially abused behind bars.

Justice Martin said his decision to resign was solely his own.

"My resignation does not imply any criticism of the government, prime minister or the attorney-general," he told reporters in Canberra on Monday.

He said it became apparent, "rightly or wrongly", he would not have the full confidence of sections of the indigenous community that have a vital interest in the inquiry.

"As a consequence, the effectiveness of the commission is likely to be compromised from the outset. I am not prepared to proceed in the face of that risk. This royal commission is far too important to undertake that risk," he said.

Justice Martin dismissed suggestions that he would have ignored or not given sufficient weight to indigenous issues.

"This suggestion is wrong," he said, adding that he had been making plans to consult widely with indigenous organisations and individuals.