Shocking cases to spark child safety probe

The Queensland Child and Family Commission will examine two appalling child safety cases that have rocked Brisbane this week.

The short harrowing life of Willow Dunn will be probed as part of a wider investigation into child safety as more shocking details about her alleged murder were revealed.

In a tragic account of her death a post-mortem found Willow was “experiencing serious malnourishment … that indicated sustained mistreatment” when she died.

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The four year old’s father, Mark James Dunn, 43, was charged with murder after Willow was found dead in her Cannon Hill home on Monday.

As police intimated charges against others could follow, the State Government announced a probe into Willow’s case.

The Queensland Child and Family Commission will also examine the alleged neglect of two youths, aged 17 and 19 years, discovered living in squalor at Stafford after their carer father died this week.

The two boys and Willow were all known to the Department of Child Safety which will be scrutinised by the investigation.

Child Safety Minister Di Farmer yesterday said there was “no excuse for the neglect of children in our community”.

“We all need to know how these terrible incidents have happened,” she said.

The Opposition has called for Ms Farmer to be sacked.

“Queenslanders are sick of the same tired-old-excuses for the failures in child safety and someone must be held accountable,” LNP shadow police minister Dan Purdie said.

The separate police investigation into Willow’s death is ongoing with detectives casting their net wider than just her biological father.

It is understood Willow, who had Down syndrome, was found in her cot decomposed with sores on her hips down to the bone.

“We continue to investigate all aspects of Willow’s life being her care, her health and her treatment in the days, weeks, months and years leading up to her death,” Homicide’s acting Detective Inspector Chris Knight said.

“Our investigation will continue until the detectives … decide whether or not any other culpability exists for any other people that had responsibility to provide care for her”.

The child’s stepmother, who lived at the Cannon Hill residence with her own children, has not been charged in relation to Willow’s death.

Det Insp Knight said the first responders who found Willow’s lifeless body were scarred by the “shocking set of circumstances”.

“They were confronted with a scene that will stay with them for many years,” he said.