The Northern Territory government says there's been a culture of cover-up within the territory's juvenile corrections system.
"Seeing some of that footage last night and understanding many of the historical elements within our corrections system, that I think over time there has most certainly been a culture of cover-up," Chief Minister Adam Giles told reporters on Tuesday.
His admission comes after the ABC Four Corners program on Monday night aired shocking footage of youths in detention in the NT being abused by custody officers.
Mr Giles said he visited the facility at the centre of the controversy, Don Dale, early this morning with the NT corrections commissioner.
"I inspected the intake area, I saw many of the detainees in their place of residence. I saw them playing football and I just wanted to make sure that I was comfortable with the level of amenity," he said.
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The chief minister announced the NT government planned to build a new youth detention centre if it is re-elected at the territory election on August 31.
Mr Giles also said a previously announced root-and-branch review of the corrections system would be handed down on Friday.
The federal government on Tuesday announced a royal commission into abuse of inmates within the juvenile justice system.
