Calls for independent inquiry into how SA teen in state care was impregnated by abuser Matthew James McIntyre
The case of a 13-year-old South Australian girl impregnated and abused by a man she met on a teenage dating app while in state care has sparked calls for an independent inquiry.
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The South Australian opposition is calling for an independent inquiry into the abuse of a 13-year-old girl in state care who was impregnated by a man she met on a dating app.
Matthew McIntyre, 35, was jailed for almost two years after messages between him and the teenager in January were discovered and reported to the police.
It was then found the 13-year-old was pregnant.
Mr McIntyre fronted court on Monday where the man claimed he met the girl through a teenage dating app, Mylol, after she approached him.
Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas on Wednesday said the “unacceptable and shocking” scenario needed a prompt explanation from the State Government.
He said Child Protection Minister Rachel Sanderson needed to answer how the paedophile could strike up an online relationship with the victim under her care; what steps have been taken since learning of the scenario; and what was being done to ensure it didn’t happen again.
“Rachel Sanderson, as the minister, is responsible for all of those children in state care … the lack of transparency here speaks volumes,” Mr Malinauskas said.
“How has the minster allowed the situation unfold where a child under her guardianship was allowed to fall victim to a 35-year-old paedophile and fall pregnant?
“That is an unacceptable situation and the minister must account for how that situation was allowed to occur.”
Mr Malinauskas said he would expect his ministers to draw Cabinet’s attention to the issue immediately, initiate a full independent inquiry into how it happened and find ways to prevent it from happening in future.
“The minister as a starting point needs to explain the level of inaction … once we establish some basic facts, then we can start to purse what the government’s response should be now.”
On Monday, the department’s deputy chief executive Fiona Ward told The Advertiser she could not comment on any specific child or young person in care but that the safety and wellbeing of children was their top priority.
“As a community, we are all worried about the safety of children and young people in South Australia and how technology can be misused to target any child by sexual predators,” she said in a statement.
“Predatory adults must be held to account for criminal behaviour that puts children and young people at risk.
“The SA Police and the E-Safety Commissioner continue to work hard to create community awareness about this predatory online behaviour by perpetrators of sexual abuse.
“Collectively, we must ensure that children who fall victim to this predatory behaviour are not further victimised.”
Ms Sanderson said any person who targeted children and young people in a predatory manner “would face the full force of the law”.