Three Northern Territory organisations say Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has failed Indigenous Australians by ignoring their requests to be consulted when defining the terms of reference for the royal commission into abuse in the juvenile justice system.

The organisations, which include the Northern Land Council and Central Land Council and the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT (AMSANT), said the integrity of the commission had been compromised by the Government's decision to consult members of the Northern Territory Government on the matter.

AMSANT chief executive John Paterson, speaking on behalf of the three organisations, said, "Prime Minister Turnbull has comprehensively failed us".

"Yet again the Commonwealth Government has refused to consult with Aboriginal people, in spite of Mr Turnbull's commitment, now hollow, to 'do things with Aboriginal people, not to us'," he said.

But the Federal Government defended itself against the accusations, saying said it didn't want "endless consultations" over the royal commission.

Attorney-General George Brandis said the Government spoke with indigenous leaders Warren Mundine and Mick Gooda before yesterday's announcement.

"The fact that we didn't hold some endless public seminar with any number of groups to talk about what should be in the terms of is hardly the point," he said.

"The test is whether it will come up with actionable answers."

Aboriginal bodies question commission's independence

Teenager Dylan Voller was hooded and shacked to a chair at the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre. ( Supplied )

Mr Paterson condemned the involvement of NT Government members, including Chief Minister Adam Giles who previously called the Territory's treatment of prisoners "soft" and "flaccid".

"We are also deeply disturbed that NT Chief Minister Adam Giles was party to developing the terms of reference and selecting the royal commissioner," Mr Paterson said.

Deputy chairwoman of AMSANT Olga Havnen said the organisations had grave concerns over the speedy development of the royal commission's terms of reference and the appointment of Brian Martin as royal commissioner.

She said Mr Martin, the former chief justice of the Northern Territory, could not be independent due to his past involvement in sentencing juveniles to detention.

She added he had pre-existing social and professional relationships "not only with the legal profession but also with the political players here, who are the subject of this investigation".

Ms Havnen said the organisations had been unable to fulfil their function of representing the interests of Indigenous Australians.

"Our objective is to provide a united voice, to be able to provide a key point of contact for government and for others to be able to deal with us and consult with us. To get a considered view," she said.

"It seems to me this royal commission has been compromised from the outset. Because of the fact that the Territory Government, who is responsible for all of these atrocities, be it Labor or the Country Liberal Party, are the ones that are being consulted and have had the most input.

"This isn't an open, transparent, objective, independent process at all.

"Are they serious about getting a good outcome or is this really about just having a white wash?"