The leading Indigenous legal agency in the Northern Territory has been forced to defend appointing a man as chairperson when who they knowingly knew pleaded guilty to assaulting his partner.

The Australian reported on Tuesday that Arrernte man Hugh Woodbury, who was elected as chairperson of the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) in April, served a 12-month good behaviour bond and was fined $200 without conviction after his partner reported an assault to police in 2020.

It was reported Mr Woodbury's partner, who was 17 weeks pregnant with the couple's third child in July 2020, was sworn at and had her arm slammed in the door as she tried to enter.

"The defendant struggled with the victim and the defendant dragged the victim away from the back sliding door and pushed her to the ground," the fact sheet reads, as reported by The Australian.

He continued to swear and yell until the police were called.

Mr Woodbury was kept in the Alice Springs Watch House with an intoxication level of 0.154BAC.

Asked why he assaulted his partner, Mr Woodbury reportedly told police: "No excuse for what I done…Not sure why I did it. I need help. I don't drink that much, I don't know."

He was sentenced in October 2020 for one count of aggravated assault, for which he pleaded guilty.

Mr Woodbury was appointed as a board member last year, where he disclosed the incident to the board.

The NAAJA board said they were aware that Mr Woodbury "was involved in a historic incident involving a partner, for which he was fined $200 and issued a good behaviour bond".

"Importantly, no conviction was recorded. Mr Woodbury abided by the conditions of the bond without issue, including completing counselling," NAAJA said.

They said Mr Woodbury was currently studying a degree in arts on a scholarship at the Australian National University, "and, through his role at NAAJA, is dedicated to improving justice outcomes for Aboriginal people across the Territory".

The decision to appoint Mr Woodbury has caused much media commentary, especially around the epidemic of domestic violence against women by men, with Indigenous women impacted at a disproportionately high rate.

NAAJA acknowledged family violence is a "serious issue" across the country, "particularly for Aboriginal people who are over-represented in the statistics as both victims and perpetrators".

"This is why NAAJA has long advocated for improved services to support not only victims of family violence but also perpetrators, who need to have the opportunity to address the drivers of their actions and make amends," the organisation said.

On Tuesday, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy said the government acknowledged there is a "national crisis" when it comes to domestic violence.

Asked about the incident, she told reporters: "How could you not be concerned?"

"It is alarming to read the kind of story that we read on the front page of The Australian In regard to NAAJA," the Yanyuwa senator said.

"But there's always two sides of every story, and I will be trying to find out just what the decision was behind the NAAJA board, where things are at."

In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, NAAJA said they acknowledged the reporting surrounding Mr Woodbury. and noted: "Mr Woodbury undertook extensive family counselling following the incident and, with the ongoing support of his partner and extended family, he has worked hard to get his life on track."

"People who do the hard work to turn their lives around deserve a second chance," NAAJA said.

The board has been criticised in recent times over a series of challenges, including unproven allegations of financial mismanagement, along with staffing issues. The latter resulted in the organisation being unable to take on any new clients for several months before reopening their Youth Court practice in Mparntwe/Alice Springs in March.

They have also faced regular calls by conservative politicians, including NT Senator and opposition Indigenous affairs spokesperson Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, to be shut down.

On being elected as chairperson earlier this year, Mr Woodbury said NAAJA had a "critical role to play in fighting for just outcomes for Aboriginal people, for whom over-policing and discriminatory policies have directly contributed to mass incarceration".

He replaced Colleen Rosas, who remains as deputy chair. On his appointment, she said Mr Woodbury would bring a "unique perspective" to the organisation, arguing he was "young, smart, and passionate about empowering Aboriginal communities".