Bill Shorten has pushed for Aboriginal people to be included in the child detention royal commission. Picture: Supplied.

“We all saw the appalling images, Chloe and I as parents were shocked that a child can be treated this way,” Shorten said.

“That is not the way Australia should treat its children.”

The current Don Dale youth detention centre is seen in Darwin. Picture: AAP/Neda VanovacSource:AAP

The Labor leader is in the Northern Territory to discuss the royal commission and juvenile justice with peak indigenous groups as well as Northern Territory Children’s Commissioner Colleen Gwynne and NT Labor leader Michael Gunner.

The opposition leader said Labor supports the royal commission, which will be headed by former NT chief justice Brian Martin, but it must be done correctly and with the inclusion of Aboriginal people.

“I would ask Mr Turnbull to listen carefully to the voices of Aboriginal Australians,” he said.

“This royal commission has to be done with Aboriginal people not to Aboriginal people.”

He said if this does not happen it will be seen as political manipulation.

Bill Shorten said images such as this one shown on ABC’s Four Corners shocked him and his wife Chloe. Picture: Australian Broadcasting Corp’s Four CornersSource:AFP

Shorten called for the PM to appoint two Aboriginal co-commissioners to support the commission.

“There’s a lot of people up here hurting,” he said.

Shorten refused to suggest any names he would like to see appointed saying the Turnbull government would just shut them down.

The royal commission — which was sparked by an ABC Four Corners program showing abuse of young detainees in the NT’s Don Dale centre — is expected to hold a directions hearing in early September.

On a separate issue Shorten slammed Turnbull over Rudd’s failed UN bid.

“Malcolm Turnbull’s actions are pathetic, they’re disappointing,” he said.

“A former prime minister of Australia has been treated in a very shady fashion for nothing more than petty politics.”