‘Beyond tragic’: Premier Peter Malinauskas breaks silence on suspected neglect death of six-year-old Charlie

Premier Peter Malinauskas has returned from holidays and broken his silence on the suspected neglect death of six-year-old Charlie.

Premier Peter Malinauskas has broken his silence on the suspected neglect death of six-year-old Charlie, vowing to ascertain whether government agencies and staff did all they could to prevent the tragedy.

Mr Malinauskas, who returned from two weeks’ leave on Monday, described the death as “beyond tragic” and “somewhat incomprehensible for every South Australian, let alone every parent”.

“What we have to do is ascertain the facts that contributed to Charlie’s death and, of course, there are a range of things that may have contributed towards it,” he said.

“There is naturally questions around what the actual case of death is, which is information that still remains unclear.

“But the question, of course, is was criminal negligence a variable in terms of Charlie’s death, and that obviously is subject to a police investigation.

Suspected neglect victim Charlie. Picture: Supplied

Premier Peter Malinauskas said the death of six-year-old Charlie was “beyond tragic”. Picture: Emma Brasier

“But then a third element, of course, is how did all the interactions that Charlie’s family had with state government agencies, did they all occur as is appropriate and were all the necessary judgments made that were in the best interests of not just Charlie but also all the other children in the family?”

Charlie was found unresponsive at her family’s Munno Para home on July 15, before she was rushed to the Lyell McEwin Hospital but could not be saved. Malnutrition was declared her cause of death.

Last week, Acting Premier Susan Close announced the chief executive of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet would lead a review into the “multi-agency involvement” of government in the case. The review will run alongside the criminal investigation.

Dr Close said the SA Housing Authority and the education, human services and child protection departments had contact with the family prior to Charlie’s death.

Mr Malinauskas said he was “in active discussions with key government officials” regarding the matter while he was away, but he did not consider cutting short his leave.

“My judgment is that, in Susan Close, we have an outstanding leader who is also across this policy detail probably better than most South Australians, given her ministerial experience in the past,” he said.

But he said he had not been made aware of the government’s offer to cover funeral costs, and denied the offer was an acknowledgment of responsibility or failure.

“What I would say is that I think it’s appropriate that governments express compassion when it comes to tragedies that occur within the community and this may yet be another expression of that,” he said.