Opposition leader Deb Frecklington calls for answers as Gold Coast baby death breaks hearts

CHILD Safety is under the spotlight again for allowing a baby girl to be returned to her homeless parents in the lead-up to the shocking discovery of her body on a Surfers Paradise beach.

CHILD Safety is under the spotlight again for allowing a baby girl to be returned to her homeless parents in the lead-up to the shocking discovery of her body on a Surfers Paradise beach.

As police continued their investigations today, the focus turned to how authorities could have got the case so wrong.

Both Queensland and NSW police are investigating the death of the nine-month-old girl who was found on the water’s edge near Staghorn Avenue about 12.30am yesterday.

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Police at the scene of an infant found dead on a Gold Coast beach at Surfers Paradise

A man, 48, and a woman, 23, continue to help police with their inquires.

No charges have been laid and the baby’s older brother remains in the care of Child Safety.

Detectives are determining where the death occurred — there remains speculation that the child may have been killed earlier at the Tweed — and whether the cause of death was drowning.

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A tribute to the baby that was found dead on the beach in Surfers Paradise near Staghorn Ave. Photo: Tertius Pickard

The family had been based previously at Kingscliff just across the NSW border, and moved often north, seeking help from welfare agencies working in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

Community members continue to bring flowers and toys to the site where the small child was found dead at Surfers Paradise.

The Bulletin in a report has revealed how authorities were first alerted in May about the family as the little girl’s cries could be heard as they slept on a wooden bench in a Surfers park.

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Jodie Devere of the Gold Coast pays tribute to the baby. Photo: Tertius Pickard

“Why was the baby left with the parents — just why,” a resident asked.

Opposition leader Deb Frecklington today said the Palaszczuk Government needs to put the priority of children first rather than focus on the reunification of families.

KEY QUESTION IN BABY’S TRAGIC DEATH

State Opposition leader Deb Frecklington, at Southport, says the Government needs to answer questions about child safety. Picture Glenn Hampson.

“I believe the Government has a lot of questions that need answering,” Ms Frecklington said.

Police sources have confirmed the family was known to Child Safety, that they had “no fixed address” and for more than a year travelled from the border to Surfers camping rough.

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Queensland police officers wipe away tears as they bring toys and pay their respects near where the baby girl was found dead in the early hours of Monday morning

“What the hell were they (Child Safety) doing leaving that child there,” Ms Frecklington said.

“If that baby was known to authorities … why was she left there.

“This is a little baby, a little baby girl. It is so tragic … it just breaks my heart. We need to do everything to protect our kids.”

A surfers stands at tribute to the baby that was found dead on the beach in Surfers Paradise near Staghorn Ave. Photo: Tertius Pickard

Tributes continued to flow on Tuesday on the beachfront where the baby was found, with people arriving bearing gifts appearing throughout the day.

Family friends mourned the little girl, remembering her beautiful smile.

“When I last saw you the smiles on your face made my day sweetheart,” a card read.

“I won’t forget how I come (sic) to meet your family,” wrote another.

“You are now in no pain, no hunger.”

A tribute to the baby. Photo: Tertius Pickard

Queensland police officers stopped to pay their respects on Tuesday morning, one wiping away a tear as they signed a card and lay a toy horse at the site.

A note, attached to the soft toy, read “now being in cuddled in the arms of God xx”