Lead

An independent review into the circumstances of Kumanjayi Little Baby, the five-year-old Warlpiri girl whose death shocked Australia, has found serious failures in how the Northern Territory's child protection department responded to reports of violence within her family.

The review, tabled in NT Parliament on Tuesday, was led by former New South Wales police commissioner Karen Webb and former acting NT anti-corruption commissioner Greg Shanahan. It found that the key issue was not a lack of statutory authority or protective mechanisms, but "the timeliness and effectiveness with which risk was identified, assessed and responded to," as reported by ABC Australia.

The review found failures in how the department responded to reports of violence within the girl's family, according to ABC Australia.

Coverage Comparison

Both ABC Australia and The Guardian — World reported on the review's findings, though with different emphases. ABC Australia focused on the review's conclusion of "serious departmental failures" and the fact that the review was being tabled in NT Parliament. The Guardian highlighted the mother being "effectively" left alone and the department's failure to adequately assess threats to her safety.

The Guardian also reported that the review, despite its critical conclusions, was unable to draw a link between child protection referrals and the girl's death. This is a distinction that both outlets noted, but The Guardian gave it more prominence.

Key Claims

  • The review found that Kumanjayi Little Baby's mother was "effectively" left alone to protect her children while experiencing domestic violence, and that child protection authorities failed to adequately assess multiple threats to her safety, as reported by The Guardian.
  • The review was unable to draw a link between the child protection referrals and the girl's death, according to The Guardian.
  • Kumanjayi Little Baby was allegedly abducted and murdered in April by Jefferson Lewis, a man unknown to her or her family. Lewis, 47, was charged with murder and is due to face court again this month, as reported by The Guardian.
  • At the time of the alleged murder, the girl's father was in prison facing aggravated assault and domestic violence charges, as reported by ABC Australia.
  • The review made seven recommendations, including the need for a "comprehensive reset" of the department's operating model, improved training, and recruiting to boost workforce capacity, as reported by ABC Australia and The Guardian.
  • The review was commissioned by the Northern Territory government one week after the girl's death, and its interim report was tabled in parliament on the same day that changes to the Care and Protection of Children Act passed, according to The Guardian.
  • The NT's children's commissioner resigned this month over the changes to the act, as reported by The Guardian.

Perspectives

The Northern Territory government, through Child Protection Minister Robyn Cahill, announced the independent review in the wake of the tragedy. The review was led by former NSW police commissioner Karen Webb and former acting NT anti-corruption commissioner Greg Shanahan. Their findings are being tabled in parliament, and the government is expected to respond to the recommendations.

The review's findings reflect a perspective critical of the department's handling of the case, but the review itself acknowledges the difficulty in establishing a direct causal link between the department's actions and the girl's death.