Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called out a Northern Territory senator for failing to provide specifics about allegations relating to Indigenous children being abused.
NT Country Liberal senator Jacinta Price made several claims about the Territory government's families, housing and communities department, which oversees the foster care of Indigenous children.
Senator Price claimed Indigenous children in foster care were being returned to abusive homes because of kinship rules she said should be abolished.
NT Police Minister Kate Worden said Senator Price's claims were incorrect and urged her to report the allegations to police.
Mr Albanese also said Senator Price had not reported her concerns.
"She was given the opportunity to come forward with some specifics and failed to do so," he told ABC Radio on Monday.
"If there is any abuse then it's a crime and it should be reported to the police, as a number of people, including Senator (Malarndirri) McCarthy and the Northern Territory government, have said themselves."
Labor MP Marion Scrymgour, who represents the seat of Lingiari taking in most of the Territory, called for serious intervention and income management for families that neglect children.
Mr Albanese said he would discuss Ms Scrymgour's suggestions with her and reiterated matters of child abuse needed to be reported.
The head of the national peak body for Indigenous children and families said children must not be used as "political footballs".
SNAICC chief Catherine Liddle told Sky News the federal budget should fund an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander national commissioner to investigate child abuse.
