Three children aged 10, seven, and four months died from stab wounds and strangulation in Port Hedland, Western Australia, in July 2022, raising serious questions about the handling of their case by the Department of Child Protection (DCP). The children’s mother, a known methamphetamine user, was responsible for their deaths. Recent reports have highlighted systemic failures within the WA child protection system that preceded the tragedy.
An internal DCP email, described as “critical” and ordering an investigation into the well-being of the Hawke children, remained unopened until the day of their deaths, underscoring a pattern of bureaucratic delays. The children’s maternal grandmother, Dorothy Papertalk, made multiple formal requests to the DCP to remove the children from their mother’s care, citing concerns for their safety. Despite these warnings, including physical attacks on the children—such as the 10-year-old Jamelia being chased and struck with a rock by her mother just days before her death—appropriate intervention was not initiated.
Police interactions with the children preceding the fatal incident revealed that they were living in fear. Records indicate that, despite police urging elevated urgency, the children were not classified as Priority 1 cases, which would have mandated investigations to begin within 24 hours. These procedural oversights have been part of broader criticism regarding the DCP’s response to risk signals.
Following the deaths, WA Coroner Philip Urquhart rejected an application by Papertalk to hold a coronial inquest into the circumstances leading to the children’s deaths. His decision cited that an inquest was neither “desirable” nor in the public interest, a stance that has been met with strong opposition. Critics describe the ruling as reflecting bureaucratic inertia and a failure to pursue accountability.
In response to public pressure and revelations about systemic failures, Child Protection Minister Jessica Stojkovski announced an independent review aimed at assessing whether lessons from this case have led to meaningful reforms within the department. However, advocates argue that an independent review falls short of the transparency and accountability that a coronial inquest would provide.
Legal experts and community leaders emphasize the need for an inquest. Tom Percy KC contends that the documented evidence of DCP failings fulfills the criteria for “exceptional circumstances,” warranting an official inquiry directed by the WA Attorney-General, Tony Buti. Former Aboriginal affairs minister Fred Chaney has described the situation as a profound child protection scandal, highlighting the broader context of vulnerability among Indigenous children in the state.
Dorothy Papertalk has publicly urged the government to conduct a full investigation, reflecting the concerns of many Indigenous communities about systemic neglect. “If we don’t investigate all the ways my sunshines were left to die, we may as well say three small black lives don’t matter to anyone,” she said, underscoring the urgency for accountability and reform.
The WA government faces mounting calls to establish a coronial inquest promptly, with stakeholders advocating it as a crucial step toward preventing future tragedies and addressing deep-seated issues within the child protection system.