The Northern Territory's shadow family violence minister Steve Edgington has suspended a staffer in his electorate office after revelations he had been jailed for domestic violence offences.

Country Liberal Party MLA Mr Edgington said he wasn't told of the extend of the employee's past offending.

He said convictions relating to domestic violence and breaches of bail were brought to his attention yesterday.

"As a result of those matters being brought to my attention I have spoken with the Department of the Legislative Assembly and Mr Plummer has been suspended from duty," he said.

Darius Lee Plummer has been convicted and cumulatively spent 85 days in jail for numerous domestic violence-related offences dating back to 2019.

Last week Mr Plummer had his licence suspended for high-range drink driving and was fined $850.

Opposition to probe employee's history

Mr Edgington said he was told of two offences before deciding to hire Mr Plummer last year, neither of which were specific instances of domestic, sexual or family violence.

"What was disclosed to me was that those matters consuming alcohol," he said.

Mr Edgington said if he had known how many offences had taken place, he would not have employed Mr Plummer and it was now time to "get to the bottom" of the matter.

"To formalise a criminal history check, a process will need to be followed," he said. 

"That will go through to the police department and a criminal history will be released so that the department can consider that in the context of firstly to his employment declaration form and the allegations that have been made in the media this morning."

Defending his decision to employ Mr Plummer given his own role as shadow minister for family and sexual violence, Mr Edgington said he believed Mr Plummer had reformed and taken responsibility for his past actions.

"There were things that I weighed up including at what point should a person be excluded from ever having employment," he said.

Mr Plummer has been contacted for comment.

Call for Edgington to resign as shadow minister

NT Chief Minister Eva Lawler suggested it was unlikely Mr Edgington wasn't aware of the extent of Mr Plummer's offending.

"I'm sure on the ground in a small town like Tennant Creek that it's impossible that Steve Edgington wasn't aware of those issues," she said.

"These are issues for the leader of the opposition to address around when she knew [about these offences]."

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Kate Worden said Mr Edgington should resign from his role as shadow minister.

"It's time for him to stand up and walk away and if he doesn't the leader of the opposition Lia Finocchiaro should sack him," she said.

Ms Finocchiaro said in a statement she was only aware of the drink driving offence which Mr Plummer pleaded guilty to last week.

"I asked for further information relating to that charge which I have not yet received, and I was not aware of any other matters," she said.