Former Chief Justice to lead commission into NT youth detention

Former Northern Territory Supreme Court Chief Justice Brian Martin has been appointed as the Royal Commissioner to lead an inquest into the territory's juvenile detention and child protection system.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Attorney-General George Brandis confirmed Mr Martin's appointment in Canberra today. 

The decision to hold a Royal Commission follows a report on the ABC's 4 Corners program on Monday, which detailed systematic and repeated abuse of teenage detainees at the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre. 

The commission will look at the causes of systematic problems and the failure of officials to identify and correct them.

Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove has approved the terms of reference and the establishment of the Royal Commission. 

"At the start of this week, Australians were shocked and appalled by the images of mistreatment of children at Don Dale youth detention centre," Mr Turnbull told reporters today.

Mr Turnbull said Mr Martin is eminently qualified to undertake the role and will bring a wealth of legal experience to the commission.

"Mr Martin has an understanding of the legal and justice systems of the Northern Territory, and a deep familiarity with issues arising from the engagement of Indigenous people with criminal justice," he said.

He was former Chief Justice of the Northern Territory, a Justice of the Supreme Court of South Australia and served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia as well being a Director of Public Prosecutions of the Commonwealth.

With AAP.

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