Save Our Kids: Hillier tragedy grandparents back calls for child protection overhaul

The grandparents of two children failed by child protection authorities have joined calls for immediate action to fix SA’s broken system.

The grandparents of two children failed by child protection authorities before their murders have called for urgent improvements to the system in the wake of a string of deaths and serious injuries involving children known to the department.

Throwing their support behind the Advertiser’s Save our Kids campaign, Steven Egberts and Janet Wells said the department lacked accountability and failed to follow its own processes.

They also revealed they have withdrawn from an inquiry looking at all coronial recommendations relating to child protection in South Australia, which was triggered by an inquest into the deaths of their grandchildren, Amber Rose Rigney, 6, and Korey Lee Mitchell, 5.

Charlie.

Jimmy*. Picture: Facebook

In a letter to Premier Peter Malinauskas, the pair said they were upset that following the death of Makai Wanganeen the Premier said “if there are people who have failed to do their job … then they will be held to account, they should be held to account”.

They said there has been no such consequence in the case of their grandchildren, Amber Rose Rigney, 6, and Korey Lee Mitchell, 5.

“My question would relate as to why you didn’t feel the same way about the deaths of my grandchildren?” their letter read.

“For over six years, we have been requesting accountability to be exercised, and (for punishment) of the DCP for neglecting their statutory obligations.”

Korey Lee Mitchell and Amber Rigney-Wilson.

Kobi Shepherdson.

A government spokesman said “the government is doing everything in its power to prevent tragedies like the tragic deaths of Amber Rose Rigney and Korey Lee Mitchell”, but they respect the couple’s decision.

“We completely understand and respect Mr Egberts’ and Ms Wells’ position; the offer to speak with reviewer Kate Alexander remains open, because the voices of families who have faced such tragedy are vitally important and will contribute to making crucial change,” he said.

Chloe Valentine.

Makai Wanganeen.

The Advertiser is calling on the government to:

– Investigate all notifications made to DCP, ending the practice of closing files without probing reports of potential danger to children. About one-third of reports that the department deemed to require investigation were instead closed, often because of a lack of resources.

– A crackdown on truancy. The state coroner has previously recommended tougher reporting requirements around non-attendance, and prosecution of parents who persistently do not send their children to school. There have been only a handful of prosecutions in the last 15 years.

– Make long term guardianship of a child easier to obtain, recognising cases where reunification with parents is unrealistic and minimising disruption to children — a measure that has been called for by Mr Egberts and Ms Wells.

– Appoint a new chief executive of the Department for Child Protection

– Urgently implement all recommendations of the 2016 Child Protection Systems Royal Commission

Megan Jayne Somerville, 35, of Modbury Heights, accused of stabbing her two sons on the North-South Motorway.

Zhane Chilcott.

A government spokesman said “within weeks of coming to government, it became clear child protection had been underfunded, and an extra $128m was allocated in this year’s budget.

He said the government immediately accepted all recommendations handed down following the inquest into the deaths of Amber and Korey, including the review, which will be completed this year and publicly released.