Tiahleigh Palmer’s killer Rick Thorburn had 20-year long rap sheet

RICK Thorburn was able to become a foster carer despite a 20-year long rap sheet that began nearly four decades before he was entrusted to care for other people’s children.

• Thorburn jailed for callous killing

RICK Thorburn was able to become a foster carer despite a 20-year long rap sheet that began nearly four decades before he was entrusted to care for other people’s children.

Between 1977 and 1997 Rick Thorburn faced court for stealing, break and enters and other offences.

He drove drunk, was caught for speeding and later racked up a host of traffic offences.

As Thorburn’s rap sheet grew he was even wanted on warrants interstate relating to trucking fines.

Despite this, Thorburn became a foster carer in 2014.

One year later he passed a working-with-children check, gaining a Blue Card so his wife could run a family day care at their home.

Thorburn’s record did not stop him caring for children because he had no sexual or assault charges or offences involving children on his Australian criminal history.

Rick Thorburn was last week jailed for life for killing foster daughter Tiahleigh Palmer.

After Tiahleigh Palmer’s murder, State Government reviews were undertaken into the Blue Card and foster systems and countless recommendations were made.

“Implementation began before the reviews were completed and is continuing,” Child Safety Minister Di Farmer said.

SPECIAL INVESTIGATION

SICK GAME PLAYED OUT OVER SIX GRIM DAYS

INVESTIGATORS CAST NET FOR CLUES

TIA LIVED AND DIED IN CARE OF A SAVAGE

KILLER FINALLY BROUGHT TO JUSTICE

She said there was nothing that could have predicted the crime Thorburn went on to commit.

However, LNP member for Mudgeeraba Ros Bates has raised questions about the safety of Queensland children, saying Thorburn never should have been considered as a foster carer and backlogs in the system stopped Tiahleigh receiving regular visits from Child Safety officers.

“I don’t think (that) if you have criminal history as long as your arm, even if it isn’t to do with child offences, that people like him should have ever been considered,” she said.

“Tiahleigh’s death should have been prevented.

“Tiahleigh Palmer was never missing. She was right where Child Safety put her, back with her eventual murderer.”

Tia Palmer.

Pictures: Supplied

Bravehearts founder Hetty Johnston said barring those with any criminal history from getting a Blue Card would burden a system already struggling to find foster carers.

“It’s the systemic gaps at the time which enabled Rick Thorburn to be in the situation but the bottom line is, it’s easy to criticise but there aren’t enough foster carers,” she said.

“We need to start looking at a character assessment.

“This is Tiahleigh’s legacy. There are now warning signs and red flags that were never sought previously.

“We are looking more broadly because we want to make sure it’s the right kind of people who are foster carers.”

Originally published as Tiahleigh Palmer’s killer Rick Thorburn had 20-year long rap sheet