Kumanjayi Little Baby child protection review finds departmental failings

An independent review into the circumstances surrounding the death of five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby has uncovered serious failings within the Northern Territory's child protection department. The review, led by former New South Wales police commissioner Karen Webb and former acting NT anti-corruption commissioner Greg Shanahan, is being tabled in the NT Parliament.

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The review found that the key issue in the [Kumanjayi Little Baby] matter was not a lack of statutory authority or available protective mechanisms, but the timeliness and effectiveness with which risk was identified, assessed and responded to.

The tragic case, which involved the alleged abduction and murder of the girl from an Alice Springs town camp in April, deeply shocked Australia. In response, the NT Child Protection Minister Robyn Cahill commissioned the review to examine how the department managed Kumanjayi's case, specifically focusing on prior child protection notifications regarding violence within her family.

The review's findings indicate that the core issue was not a lack of legal authority or available protective mechanisms. Instead, the report highlights deficiencies in the speed and effectiveness with which risks were identified, assessed, and acted upon. Despite repeated indicators of domestic and family violence, the cumulative impact on the child's safety was not adequately recognized, and protective measures were not implemented promptly.

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Despite repeated indicators of domestic and family violence, the cumulative impact of the violence and its implications for the child’s safety were not adequately recognised, and protective responses were not pursued in a timely manner.

Kumanjayi Little Baby's father was reportedly in prison on aggravated assault and domestic violence charges at the time of her alleged murder. The review has put forth seven recommendations, including a call for a "comprehensive reset" of the Department of Children and Families' operating model. This includes reassessing its structure, resource allocation, decision-making processes, and workforce arrangements to ensure more effective and timely child protection responses.

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A comprehensive reset of [the Department of Children and Families] operating model.