Youth mistreatment matter of shame: Dodson

Indigenous Labor senator Pat Dodson has labelled the mistreatment of young people in Northern Territory youth detention centres a matter of utter shame.

Pat Dodson says the mistreatment of young people in NT youth detention centres is a matter of shame. (AAP)

The abuse of inmates in Northern Territory youth detention centres is a matter of "utter shame", Indigenous Labor senator Pat Dodson says.

Senator Dodson has congratulated Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for announcing a royal commission following an ABC Four Corners investigation into the Don Dale centre in Darwin.

"The fact young people have been treated in this manner obviously shows there's no concept of the duty of care which is a principle matter highlighted in the royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody," he told ABC radio on Tuesday.

Senator Dodson believes the NT attorney-general should stand down in the meantime.

"The person who is responsible for the oversight of these duties and responsibilities, if they've got any honour about them, ought to stand aside voluntarily or they ought to be sat aside by their chief minister," he said.

"These kids have been subject to this torture and mistreatment since 2010 basically, and some of them repeatedly, and you can't allow the people who have been in charge of this ... to remain in charge."

He wants the royal commission to be bipartisan and hopes it is led by someone with experience.

Senator Dodson admired the courage of the young men who spoke up and lawyers for exposing what happened.

The former commissioner into Aboriginal deaths in custody said the issue of incarceration should be further discussed by the Council of Australian Governments.