The Minister for Indigenous Australians says information from communities suggests the Northern Territory government is not working with First Nations organisations regarding prisoner movements away from Country.

The new CLP government has implemented a series of 'tough on crime' policies since being elected in August, and last month announced a significant increase in the NT's prison capacity.

Controversially, part of the proposed plan will see a transition from the recently refurbished Alice Springs Youth Detention Centre to a facility in Darwin, resulting in children being housed 1500 km away from their family and culture.

At the end of October, approximately 35 female prisoners from the Alice Spring Correctional Centre (ASCC) boarded a chartered flight to be sent to Darwin Correctional Centre (DCC), whilst 20 men disembarked a flight in Alice Springs from Darwin, where they are now incarcerated at ASCC.

Speaking to the ABC on Tuesday, Minister Malarndirri McCarthy said whilst she has called on the new NT government to "make sure they're working with First Nations organisations," what she had heard on the ground is "that is not the case".

"They need to do this," Minister McCarthy said, "especially when we look at the Royal Commission recommendations into Aboriginal deaths in custody, when we look at the needs for prisoners to be closer to family, to have that access".

"Are there language interpreters? We have over 100 Aboriginal languages here. So, I am urging the Northern Territory Government to do that."

The Northern Territory children's commissioner, Shahleena Musk, previously said she was "deeply concerned" by the announcement that children would be moved 1500 km from their Country.

"Whilst they may have been deprived of their liberty, these children still have the right to be connected to their culture, their loved ones and their community," Commissioner Musk said last month.

The federal government has routinely pushed blame towards justice issues back onto the states and territories.

Asked what the federal government could do, Minister McCarthy acknowledged this, but said: "We are certainly mindful, and I certainly am as Indigenous Australians Minister, that the high rates of incarceration of First Nations people does require us to have a very good look at what's going on in each jurisdiction."

"And I would again urge the new Northern Territory Government to make sure they are working with First Nations families and organisations across the Northern Territory," she said.

Corrective Services data from the June Quarter showed an average daily imprisonment rate in the NT of 1,150.8 per 100,000 people—3.4 times higher than the next highest jurisdiction, WA.

In response to questions relating to Senator McCarthy's comments, a Department of Corrections spokesperson told National Indigenous Times senior corrections staff met with the female detainees prior to their transfer, "informing them that they would be temporarily relocated to Darwin while male detainees moved into the facility in their place".

They said before any transfer, efforts are made to consult with adults involved in a young person's welfare.

"[Inmates] were also advised that upon their return, they would be transferred to the refurbished Alice Springs Youth Detention Centre," the spokesperson said.

"On the day of the transfer, senior staff spent considerable time supporting the female detainees, including escorting them to the airport and overseeing their departure.

"Staff from the Darwin Elders Program and Prisoner Services accompanied the detainees on the flight, providing in-flight support."

Advocacy group The National Network Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls (National Network) says they have yet to receive confirmation about female inmates moved to DCC having access to phone calls or video visits to "maintain critical connections with their families".

"This situation is unacceptable, and we urge the public not to forget about these women," National Network member Debbie Kilroy said.

Calling on the government to act, Ms Kilroy added: "Their safety, dignity, and wellbeing are at stake, and they deserve better than silence from those in power."

"The government must provide a timeline for these women's return to Alice Springs and ensure that, in the meantime, the women's human rights are upheld – this means that the conditions are safe, humane, and at all times the prison is respectful of their fundamental rights," she said.

This article was amended on November 14 to include quotes from the Department of Corrections.