Premier announces Mal Hyde to head up review into government agencies’ interaction with families after deaths of two children

The state’s former top cop has been appointed to head a review into government departments and their interaction with families of two children who had died.

Premier Peter Malinauskas has appointed a former top cop to conduct a review of government agencies following a new criminal neglect investigation into the death of a second child.

Police revealed on Monday that Take Force Prime, formed following the malnutrition death of Munno Para girl Charlie, was investigating the death of seven-year-old Craigmore boy Makai.

The boy died on February 10, 2022, after being taken to Lyell McEwin Hospital and later the Women’s and Children’s Hospital suffering from an unknown complaint.

Mr Malinauskas said he was made aware of Makai’s death on Friday July 22 when discussing the work of Task Force Prime, when the investigation was “in its early stages”.

The premier said he became aware of the criminal investigation before midday on Monday.

Former police commissioner Mal Hyde will head up a review into agencies’ interaction with the families of both children, with Mr Malinauskas saying the second case precipitated a “level of complexity” that required an independent head.

“One is shocking, two is desperately heartbreaking for every parent across the state,” he said.

“I will throw my effort and weight into what more my government can do to address how government agencies have operated in respect to these tragedies”.

Premier Peter Malinauskas said he became aware of Makai’s death last month. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Naomi Jellicoe

Mr Hyde, who was SA police commissioner between 1997 and 2012, will take over the existing review established by the government last month, following the creation of Task Force Prime.

His review will begin immediately and he will work co-operatively with Task Force Prime detectives, taking the work that was already put in place by the Department of Child Protection (DCP).

“Mal is an exceptional South Australian and is one of the most highly regarded people of integrity … Mr Hyde has experience in dealing with reviews and examinations of government agencies of this nature,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“We don’t want, in any way, to see any review of government impede or derail a police investigation.

“We need someone who understands police proceedings in that regard, and of course having a former police commissioner will ensure that is the case.”

The premier said Makai’s death had been reported to the previous state government at the time and confirmed that DCP had been involved with the family.

Former SA Police Commissioner Mal Hyde will front a review into government agencies over Charlie and Makai’s death.

Mr Malinauskas said people could “potentially” lose jobs after the review but cautioned against pre-emptively placing blame on those within the system.

“When we hear about a young person dying in a way that might be preventable it’s hard not to get a bit angry about it,” he said.

“I don’t think any South Australians should be under any misapprehension about just how challenging a job it is for people in frontline agencies who are confronting really challenging circumstances day in, day out.

“If there are people who have failed to to their job and children are paying the price, they will be held to account ... but we have to be cognisant of the good people who are working in the system with a strong sense of social justice … who deserve a degree of recognition as well.”

The Premier said the findings of Mr Hyde’s review would be made public once received, with timeliness of the essence amid fears another child could fall through the cracks.

“Nothing worries me more (than another child dying),” Mr Malinauskas said.

“Speed matters here, so if there’s a failing in the system we need to find out about it.

“This is about doing the right thing ... whether it be the person at DCP or the chief executive at DCP – but all need to be held to account, none more than senior management.”