Shock resignation of NT children's commissioner deemed 'a tragedy'

Lead

The Northern Territory children's commissioner, Shahleena Musk, has resigned, citing growing concerns about the transparency and consultation in the NT government's decision-making on proposed changes to child protection laws. Her resignation comes as the Country Liberal Party (CLP) government prepares to push through amendments that have drawn strong opposition from Aboriginal, health, legal and human rights groups.

In her statement released late on Thursday afternoon, Ms Musk said her decision had "not been made lightly" and reflected her "growing concerns" around transparency and consultation. She said she was unable to support what she described as "substantial and wide-reaching changes to child protection laws" and was concerned by her "effective sidelining" during the process. Ms Musk was appointed as children's commissioner by the former Labor government in late 2023.

Coverage Comparison

Two reports from ABC Australia detail the events surrounding the resignation and the legislative push. Both reports note that the resignation came a day after a government-dominated parliamentary scrutiny committee greenlit amendments to the Territory's child protection laws, despite widespread criticism. The committee, with a three-to-two split, recommended passage of the bill; the CLP majority supported it, while the two non-government members opposed. The committee's report, chaired by CLP member Oly Carlson, acknowledged that "many" submissions and witnesses opposed the bill but concluded that the department's written responses "adequately address the issues raised by stakeholders."

Key Claims

• Shahleena Musk resigned as NT children's commissioner over concerns about the government's approach to child protection laws.
• The NT government's child protection bill amendments have been criticized by Aboriginal groups and experts.
• The NT Legislative Scrutiny Committee recommended passage of the amendments despite widespread opposition.
• The proposed changes may lower the threshold for child removals and make it easier for Aboriginal children to be placed permanently with non-Indigenous carers or in group homes.
• The government has been accused of ignoring Territorians, experts, and Aboriginal voices in pushing ahead with the amendments.
• The government's response to the resignation has been criticized as a "political distraction" from the central issue of child protection.

Perspectives

NT Government: NT Minister for Children and Families, Robyn Cahill, has rejected claims that the government's changes lack transparency. The government says the changes will make children safer and provide greater stability for young people removed from their families.

Aboriginal Groups and Experts: Catherine Liddle, chief executive of the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC), called the committee's review a "political exercise from the get-go." National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People, Sue-Anne Hunter, described the circumstances in the NT as "dire" and called on the government to "listen to the experts" and "pause" the bill. She said Ms Musk's resignation "shows firsthand the lack of care and accountability they have towards our people."

Opposition Members: Independent MLA Justine Davis and Labor's Dheran Young wrote dissenting reports calling for the legislation to be paused or withdrawn.

Liberal Party Senator: Jacinta Nampinjinpa Price, a Liberal Party senator, was quoted in one report, though the specific content of her quotes is not included in the available material.