Western Australia Premier Roger Cook faced sharp criticism from Indigenous community members during a visit to Port Hedland on Saturday, marking his first trip to the Pilbara mining town since a mounting child protection scandal gripped his government. The visit came amid heightened scrutiny over the deaths of three Indigenous children in the region and ongoing concerns about the Department of Communities’ handling of child safety.

Cook and Child Protection Minister Jessica Stojkovski were confronted by Margaret Ramirez, a local Indigenous grandmother, as they emerged from a meeting with Julyardi Aboriginal Corporation. Julyardi is contracted by both state and federal governments to provide around $30 million in wraparound services to Indigenous families experiencing crisis. Ramirez accused the government of failing to take responsibility for the children’s deaths and urged officials to engage directly with affected families rather than community workers.

Last week, the WA Labor government agreed to hold a formal inquest into the deaths of three Hawke children—Jamelia (10), Arnda (7), and Kelvin (4 months)—who were killed in 2022. Their grandmother, Dorothy Papertalk, declined an offer to meet Premier Cook on Saturday, deeming the effort “too little, too late.” Papertalk emphasized that she would reserve judgment until after the inquest, which aims to investigate systemic failures surrounding her grandchildren’s deaths.

Papertalk did receive a personal apology from Mike Rowe, director-general of the Department of Communities and Protection (DCP), during a meeting Monday. Rowe also embraced her in a gesture of remorse, although he has not yet provided the written apology he initially promised. The Hawke children’s deaths followed years of police warnings that went unheeded by the South Hedland DCP. Internal records indicate the family’s case was prematurely closed just days after Margaret Hawke assaulted her daughter, with the fatal incident occurring shortly thereafter during a drug-fueled episode.

Premier Cook faced additional criticism from female Indigenous elders who expressed frustration over the brevity and limited scope of his five-hour visit. Some elders, including Pat Mason and Doris Eaton, called for urgent reforms within the department to prioritize child protection over economic interests such as mining infrastructure projects. Mason notably challenged Cook over the government’s investment in resource development contrasted with its perceived neglect of vulnerable Aboriginal children.

A separate concern was raised regarding a former Department of Communities safe house at 3 Jibson Close, South Hedland. The property, previously intended to shelter at-risk children, was reportedly exploited by sex offenders, according to a former Indigenous police officer. Minister Stojkovski confirmed the house is vacant and no longer in use but said the department is collaborating with police to ensure safety and investigate the allegations. She acknowledged that multiple properties have drawn police attention but declined to confirm if specific reports pertained directly to Jibson House.

The Premier and his ministers remain under pressure to address systemic failings in child protection within the Pilbara, with community leaders urging a more comprehensive and directly engaged approach to safeguarding Indigenous children.