An Anglican prison chaplain, who has been visiting Queensland prisoners for 26 years, says the treatment of prisoners in Queensland is no better than in the Northern Territory.

Key points: Reverend Gater's grandson was physically abused in detention centre and prison

Reverend Gater's grandson was physically abused in detention centre and prison She says prisoners fear retribution from guards if they make a complaint

She says prisoners fear retribution from guards if they make a complaint Claims similar incidents happening on a daily rate

Reverend Alex Gater has called for a royal commission into youth detention in the NT to cover Queensland, saying abuse has been happening for years in both prisons and juvenile detention centres.

"Abuse has been happening in and around the centres, the youths and the adult prisons where Aboriginal men and women and youth have been physically and verbally and sexually abused whilst in custody," she said.

The royal commission was announced following revelations of abuse raised on ABC's Four Corners program that have also led to the minister responsible for the detainees being sacked.

Reverend Gater said her grandson had spent time in a detention centre and a prison, where she said he was physically abused by officers.

At the detention centre she said he was abused by three officers.

"He had his right arm pulled out, the socket of his arm, and his shoulder," she said.

Reverend Gater said the family lodged a complaint and took action.

"They admitted fault, that they were liable for what had happened to my grandson," she said.

"My grandson was a promising AFL player, but today he cannot [play] because of the injuries that he's sustained. He cannot play sports again."

Reverend Gater said her grandson was compensated about $30,000 by the State Government.

Fear of retribution stopping complaints

Reverend Gater said her grandson had been involved in another more recent incident while at the Woodford Correctional Centre.

"He was physically beaten by five officers where they'd ... rammed his head into the wall, hit him around the body, they punched and they kicked him," she said.

"Other inmates heard him screaming when they called out to leave my grandson alone. They ignored them.

"My grandson was then taken to the detention unit ... it's like a jail within a jail."

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Reverend Gater said her grandson was placed in isolation for seven days, and she had lodged a complaint over his treatment.

"My grandson didn't want to take action until he was released ... because of retribution," she said.

Reverend Gater said her grandson feared he would be beaten again by the officers from the unit if he made any sort of complaint, and that the officers in the unit all worked together and had a "code of silence".

She said she had taken the allegations to the director-general's office and that it was now being investigated.

Reverend Gater said the problem was when she made a complaint at the centre, the officers would then be questioned and all would deny the allegations.

"Their words against the prisoners," she said.

'Abuse happening on a daily rate'

But Reverend Gater said these types of incidents were occurring on a "daily rate" across the board.

"At some times, we don't know about it. As I said, the cover ups when the Aboriginal people are being beaten, the cameras are being covered," she said.

"They are being held by two officers and another officer would beat them.

"And they beat them around the body so there's bruising.

"You don't see any bruising on the, you know, they don't do it around the head, around the body, they don't show, see the bruising."