Following widespread calls for the NT administration to be kept at arm's length because their conduct will be examined, Attorney-General George Brandis praised the willing co-operation of Chief Minister Adam Giles and observed the royal commission will be fully independent.

Senator Brandis also said that the government did not have time for an "endless public seminar" on establishing the inquiry but that he and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull did consult with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda and Indigenous Advisory Council chair Warren Mundine.

"I have no doubt at all that Justice Martin's conduct of this royal commission will demonstrate the wisdom of the government's choice of him as royal commissioner," Senator Brandis told ABC radio.

The appointment of Mr Martin, also a former Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions and South Australia Supreme Court judge, has been questioned on the basis that he sentenced juveniles in the NT and has been by some in the Territory a controversial figure.

"Any suggestion that he is not independent, any suggestion that he is not suitable for a task of this kind is very foolish," the Attorney-General said.

While the government said Labor would be consulted on the drafting of the royal commission's terms of reference, opposition frontbencher Penny Wong said on Friday morning that she was disappointed with the "regrettable" lack of discussion.

"Not only were the opposition not consulted, it appears many experts and advocates and communities in the Northern Territory have not been consulted," she said, referring to the dismay expressed by several Indigenous groups that they didn't feel heard.

Mr Turnbull on Friday said the royal commission was established to take all views into account.

"The terms of reference, as you've seen, are broad but not so broad as to make the inquiry an endless one," he said.

Mr Turnbull said Mr Martin was experienced, capable and respected and encouraged people with relevant evidence or material to bring it before the royal commission.

Senator Brandis defended the involvement of the NT government in the drafting of the terms of reference and establishment of the royal commission more broadly.

"This is a Chief Minister saying there should be a royal commission into his own government and previous Labor governments in the Northern Territory. I found Mr Giles extremely co-operative," he said.

"In fact, the terms of reference are somewhat broader than they would otherwise have been as a result of Mr Giles' contribution."

The royal commission will examine:

• The treatment of children detained at all youth detention facilities run by the NT government, including but not limited to the Don Dale facility.
• Whether any such treatment might have breached federal or NT law, human rights obligations, duty of care or any other rules.
• What mechanisms and safeguards were in place and why they failed.
• Whether there were "any deficiencies of the organisational culture" in NT youth detention facilities".
• Whether more should have been done by the NT government.

There have been calls for it to have a national scope but the government has resisted, emphasising the need for swift findings and action.

Acting opposition leader Tanya Plibersek said that the Prime Minister told her the terms of reference could be amended over the course of the inquiry, if required.

Labor has expressed hope there will be an Indigenous commissioner that would work alongside Mr Martin.

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