The Northern Territory youth detention scandal shows the Australian public can become "a bit callous" over harm to Aborigines, Labor Senator and indigenous leader Pat Dodson has said.Senator Dodson also said on Sunday it would be a "travesty of justice" if the territory's Chief Minister Adam Giles switched to the federal Senate and became indigenous affairs minister.Speaking on the ABC's Insiders program, Senator Dodson said the fact it took the shocking images of a hooded teen to galvanise action when many harsher aspects of youth detention were already widely known suggested the nation had become hardened to Aboriginal suffering."I think the Australian public becomes a bit callous when they are confronted by the awful negative things that happen in the indigenous society," he said.Senator Dodson, who is one of the nation's most respected indigenous leaders, lamented the fact that governments had not acted on recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in the early 1990s, including setting up Aboriginal justice committees to monitor how the system handles indigenous people."If we'd done that 25 years ago, we may be in a different position," he said.Asked whether Mr Giles should resign, he said that was "up to the electors of the Northern Territory"."There is some discussion that he may be replacing the current minister for Aboriginal affairs in the Senate at some point.  
That would be an absolute travesty of justice," he said.There has been speculation in recent months that Mr Giles could switch to the federal Senate in place of current Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion. Mr Giles has refused to rule out such a move.Senator Dodson also said there was "institutional" racism in the justice system."We've got to admit that. We got to deal with it," he said."It's unbecoming of a grown man to punch, hurt, harm and throw kids around in any way, shape or form. If that's racism, because a kid happened to have a different coloured skin, well that's racism."The issue has gripped the nation - and made headlines around the world - since the ABC's Four Corners program aired footage from the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre showing teenage inmates suffering various forms of abuse. Most offenders held in the centre are Aboriginal.Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull swiftly called a royal commission into the affair, appointing former chief justice of the Northern Territory Supreme Court, Brian Martin, QC.Senator Dodson also reasserted Labor's calls for more Aboriginal input into the Royal Commission in the form of two indigenous commissioners alongside Mr Martin.But Special Minister of State Scott Ryan said Mr Martin was capable of leading the commission himself."The royal commissioner that's been appointed is very well-qualified. He is familiar with the justice system in the territory, although he has not been responsible for administering it," Mr Ryan told Sky News.He said Mr Martin could himself ensure adequate indigenous input."I am certain, given the royal commissioner involved, that there will be substantial indigenous voices ??? at this royal commission when hearings commence shortly."