+34
A five-year-old Warlpiri girl, Kumanjayi Little Baby, went missing and was later found dead, sparking a major search and an investigation into child protection failures. Northern Territory Minister Robyn Cahill highlighted concerns about reluctance to remove Indigenous children from homes due to fears of repeating the Stolen Generations.
Flowers on the gates and fences surrounding Old Timers Camp in Alice Springs after the death of Kumanjayi Little Baby. Flowers on the gates and fences surrounding Old Timers Camp in Alice Springs after the death of Kumanjayi Little Baby.
Northern Territory child protection minister Robyn Cahill said the investigation will look at ‘actions taken, or not taken, in relation to this case’the case of Kumanjayi Little Baby, with the minister suggesting generally there was a reluctance to remove Aboriginal children from their homes “for fear of being accused of creating another stolen generation”. Five-year-old Warlpiri girl Kumanjayi Little Baby, a name used in line with cultural tradition after her death, was reported missing by her mother in the early hours of Sunday 26 April, about two hours after she had been put to bed in a home at the Old Timers/Ilyperenye town camp in Alice Springs.
Her disappearance triggered a massive five-day land and air search by police and more than 300 volunteers. Her body was found on Thursday 30 April, about 5km from the place she was last seen. A spokesperson for Northern Territory child protection minister, Robyn Cahill, said three child protection workers had been stood down on Wednesday morning.
“They’ve been stood down while an investigation is under way into actions taken, or not taken, in relation to this case,” she said. Cahill earlier told News Corp she had asked her department about the girl’s case and had been told there was “nothing to see here”.
“There is an absolute reluctance to move children from Aboriginal families for fear of being accused of creating another stolen generation,” Cahill said. “You cannot use that as an excuse if they are not safe. ”As of 30 June 2025, there were 733 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care in the NT, compared with 90 non-Indigenous children.
Indigenous children were removed at more than 12 times the rate of non-Indigenous children, according to theshowed that more than 70% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care in the NT in 2022-2023 were not placed with Indigenous relatives or kin, non-Indigenous relatives or kin, or another First Nations caregiver – the lowest rate in all jurisdictions. Catherine Liddle, the chief executive of peak body SNAICC, which represents the interests of Indigenous children, said the minister should also launch a separate investigation into how media organisations were able to obtain confidential details allegedly from Kumanjayi Little Baby’s child protection file.
She said publishing those details “only served to demonise a mother trying to keep herself and her children safe”. News Corp publications on Thursday reported that Kumanjayi Little Baby had been subject to six child protection notifications – meaning reports of concern had been made to child protection authorities but not necessarily investigated, substantiated, or acted upon – in recent months.
“In the Northern Territory, exposure to family violence is a mandatory child protection report,” Liddle said. “This does not necessarily mean a child is at risk and should be removed from family. Liddle suggested the information may have been leaked, and added that leaking information “erodes trust in the very system that is meant to keep our children safe”.
“Again Aboriginal families and communities are being targeted and blamed when we know this is fairly and squarely a failure of government systems such as justice, corrections and public housing,” she said.
Kumanjayi Little Baby Alice Springs Child Protection Stolen Generations Indigenous Rights
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Family Tribute and National Mourning for Kumanjayi Little BabyKumanjayi Little Baby's family held a moving tribute at the site where she was last seen, as the Northern Territory and the nation mourn her death. Jefferson Lewis has been charged with her murder and will appear in court. Vigils are planned across Australia, and communities are rallying to support the family.
Read more »
Jefferson Lewis to face court for first time charged with 5yo Kumanjayi Little Baby's murderJefferson Lewis will face court for the first time this morning, with the hearing in the Alice Springs Local Court to be streamed live online.
Read more »
Alice Springs Man Accused in Kumanjayi Little Baby Death Excused From CourtJefferson Lewis, accused of murdering five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby, did not appear at his first court hearing as prosecutors request a lengthy adjournment and the community mourns.
Read more »
Jefferson Lewis excused from first court appearance since 5yo Kumanjayi Little Baby's alleged murderThe man accused of murdering five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby has been excused from appearing in court in the Northern Territory.
Read more »
Jefferson Lewis excused from appearing in court over alleged murder of Kumanjayi Little BabyLewis, 47, did not appear for first hearing since being charged over death of girl, 5, who was allegedly abducted from an Alice Springs town camp
Read more »
Three child protection workers in the NT sacked over links to Kumanjayi Little Baby caseThree child protection workers have been stood down and a department-wide review ordered over its handling of a series of child protection reports about Kumanjayi Little Baby.
Read more »