NSW Government to Review Child Protection After Alleged Murder

The New South Wales government will commission an independent review after it was confirmed the family of a four-year-old who was allegedly murdered was known to the department in charge of child protection.

A woman has been remanded in custody and was on Sunday charged with murder after police found the body of a preschooler at a home on the NSW Central Coast.

It is understood police are investigating if cannibalism was involved in the incident.

The department of communities and justice (DCJ) confirmed it had “previous contact with the family” and was “currently examining all relevant records and information relating to this matter” after the child’s body was found.

Police said they rushed to the home at Wyong after a 32-year-old woman presented to the local police station on Saturday. The body of the child, believed to be a four-year-old boy, was found inside the home he shared with the woman late in the afternoon with significant arm injuries.

Tuggerah Lakes police district commander, Supt Chad Gillies, told reporters on Sunday morning that the woman was known to police. He said police and paramedics faced what was an “extremely confronting scene” for even the most experienced of officers.

The minister for families and communities, Kate Washington, announced the government would commission an independent review into the child’s death following calls by the state opposition.

Washington is expected to provide more details on the announcement in a press conference on Monday afternoon.

On Monday morning, the state opposition released a statement calling for an independent review into the department’s contact with the family as “horrific details emerge”.

“My thoughts are with the child’s family, loved ones and everyone in the community affected by this unimaginable loss. This is a heartbreaking tragedy,” said the shadow minister for families and communities, Natasha Maclaren-Jones.

“This unthinkable tragedy is unfortunately not the first case where this government has failed to protect our most vulnerable children, in the last year alone.

“The government knows there are workforce shortages, overwhelming caseloads, and gaps in early intervention, this case raises serious concerns, and an independent investigation must be conducted.”

The NSW government announced last year it was undertaking major reforms to the child protection and out-of-home care system. A damning 2024 audit found the state was failing tens of thousands of vulnerable children due to an “ineffective” and “unsustainable” child protection system.

The DCJ confirmed in a statement that it was examining its contact with the family and extended its deepest sympathies to the child’s family, loved ones and community.

“Given the matter remains the subject of an active NSW police investigation, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage,” a spokesperson said.

The leader of the government in the legislative council, Penny Sharpe, said “this is just a horrific event” after being asked about the tragedy at a press conference on Monday morning.

“The loss of any child is something that shocks an entire community,” she said.

“There is a police investigation that’s under way, and I know that the Department of Communities and Justice are also working through their process.

“I can’t give any more information, other than I understand that the person who’s been charged was known to police, and it appears also known to the department, but beyond that, I’m not in a position to comment any further.”

The woman appeared briefly before local court on Sunday and did not make an application for bail. She is due to appear again before Wyong local court on 1 September.

The woman and child cannot be named due to a law that protects the identification of children in criminal matters.