Sky News reporter Dan Bourchier told CNN that the government investigation – a royal commission – will “look at the juvenile justice system as a whole across the Northern Territory”.
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He also said that the Royal Commission – Australia’s highest form of inquiry – was expected to begin holding hearings as early as September, with a final report due to be released early next year.
The announcement comes after revelations raised on ABC’s Four Corner’s programme.
“We need to get all the facts out as swiftly as we can”, said the PM.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Adam Giles said he had never seen the footage before it aired on Monday, also blaming a cover-up within the corrections system for the government’s previous inaction.
The Australian government ordered an inquiry Tuesday, July 26, after graphic evidence emerged of prison guards assaulting teenage boys, with one shown hooded and shackled in scenes likened to Guantanamo Bay.
“I would just like to thank the whole Australian community for the support you have shown us boys as well as our families”, said Voller, who has previously been convicted of crimes including vehicle theft and robbery.
He said he would seek advice on establishing a royal commission and said he was “shocked and disgusted” by the events depicted in the program.
Hours after the programed ended, more than 3,000 people had signed a petition calling for a Royal Commission.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion said the footage was particularly shocking because the guards involved appeared cavalier about their actions.
Turnbull added: “There are many issues of concern here and we will get to the bottom of it and we will appoint a very thorough, meticulous examiner of this”.
‘These videos were reported to us by members of the Australian public and our community operations team promptly reviewed and removed them for containing child nudity, ‘ a Facebook spokesman said.
Mr Giles reiterated his support for the staff at Darwin’s correctional facilities.
In Northern Territory 94 percent of juvenile inmates have aboriginal origins.
“They have a challenging and hard job, one that not many people wish to do”.
After the comments were widely circulated on Twitter in the wake of the “Four Corners” report, Giles told Mix 104.9 FM in Darwin that he was “vent (ing) my frustration”.
“Let’s stop use of the spit masks until we take advice”, he said, referring to the kind of hood that was placed on the boy in the footage, covering his neck and head.
The Don Dale Youth Detention Centre has been the subject of complaints for years.
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Correctional Services Minister John Elferrink said he had not seen numerous videos including one where guards were saying “I’ll pulverise the f***er” as a young man in isolation was bagging at windows.
