Review finds child protection failures in girl's death case

Summarised from 2 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 20 Oct, 04:32 · Archive

An independent review into a five-year-old girl's alleged murder in Alice Springs has found extensive failings by the Northern Territory's child protection department.

An independent review prompted by the alleged outback murder of five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby has found 'extensive failings' by the Northern Territory's child protection department. The girl's body was found on 30 April, five days after she was allegedly abducted from her home in Alice Springs' Old Timers camp. Jefferson Lewis, 47, a distant relative of her family, has been charged with her murder and is awaiting trial.

The review, conducted by former NSW police commissioner Karen Webb and NT public servant Greg Shanahan, was tabled in parliament on Tuesday. It found child protection officers repeatedly failed to adequately assess safety threats to Kumanjayi Little Baby and her family. The girl was brought to the attention of safeguarding authorities more than a dozen times during her short life. The department had received 14 notifications over six years about her exposure to domestic and family violence, largely involving her father, including verbal and physical violence, breaches of domestic violence orders and coercive and controlling behaviour.

NT Children and Families Minister Robyn Cahill told reporters the mistakes made were 'unforgivable'. She said there was a disconnect between what the legislation required officers to do and policies put in place under the previous Labor government. The government has accepted all 45 recommendations in full to prompt 'considerable structural reform' of the child protection system. The minister has directed her department to audit existing safety frameworks and have all people involved assessed to ensure they would be safe around children, requiring anyone to be considered to have a working with children clearance.

How it is being reported

• Authorities missed ‘repeated’ chances to protect Kumanjayi Little BabyAn independent report found authorities missed more than a dozen chances to protect a five-year-old Aboriginal girl allegedly abducted and murdered in Alice Springs.Perth Now · 20 Oct, 04:17
• Authorities missed ‘repeated’ chances to protect Kumanjayi Little BabyAn independent report found authorities missed more than a dozen chances to protect a five-year-old Aboriginal girl allegedly abducted and murdered in Alice Springs.The West Australian · 20 Oct, 04:17
• Kumanjayi Little Baby review finds ‘extensive failings’ as death prompts child protection reformsThe alleged outback murder of a five-year-old girl that shocked the nation has triggered a call for sweeping reforms in the Northern Territory’s child protection system.The West Australian · 20 Oct, 03:31
• Girl's outback death prompts child protection reformsThe alleged outback murder of a five-year-old girl that shocked the nation has triggered a call for sweeping reforms in a territory's child protection system.Perth Now · 20 Oct, 03:21
• Girl's outback death prompts child protection reformsThe alleged outback murder of a five-year-old girl that shocked the nation has triggered a call for sweeping reforms in a territory's child protection system.The West Australian · 20 Oct, 03:21

In this story: Kumanjayi Little Baby · Jefferson Lewis · Northern Territory · Alice Springs · Karen Webb · Greg Shanahan · Robyn Cahill

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