Young girl’s family was subject of 16 child protection notifications, police reveal

THE family of the two-year-old girl who was allegedly raped in Tennant Creek was the subject of 16 child protection notifications since she was three months of age

The town of Tennant Creek

THE family of the two-year-old girl who was allegedly raped in Tennant Creek was the subject of 16 child protection notifications since she was three months of age.

The notifications were triggered by alleged domestic violence within the family and the girl was never removed from their care.

The startling revelations have heaped pressure on Families Minister Dale Wakefield to step down or be sacked.

Despite the clear signs trouble was brewing, Territory Families boss Ken Davies defended his staff over their handling of the child’s case.

According to the department, the 24-year-old man in custody was never normally around the little girl.

The man, who was badly beaten prior to his arrest last Saturday, is from the remote community of Epenarra and had been in town visiting the mother’s home.

Traditional owners and elders met with local member Gerry McCarthy and Acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison at a community meeting in Tennant Creek

Territory Families chief executive Ken Davies and deputy Jeanette Kerr said despite numerous complaints about the mother’s living circumstances, it was decided the girl and her baby brother were best with the mother even though she was under supervision for alcohol “misuse”.

NT Police have confirmed to the NT News there had been three further unrelated child-sex investigations in the tiny central desert town of 3000 since January 1: two that have been finalised without charges laid and another that remains under investigation.

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Ms Kerr said she understood the mother, 36, had been intoxicated on Friday evening but when she became aware her daughter had allegedly been assaulted, she immediately grabbed the child and flagged down an ambulance.

Territory Families said it had received 21 notifications about disruptive activities at the mother’s address between August 2015 and December 2017 and “all were looked at”.

Some related to an adolescent child and others to the mother’s alcohol misuse but none related to the alleged attacker, who was unknown to Territory Families.

Only one of the complaints related to the little girl, as her parents argued about the best way to carry her.

“The decision was made that the best place for these young children was to try and preserve them in the family context with the mother,” Mr Davies said.

At a meeting of elders on Thursday to address the family-violence crisis in Tennant Creek, attended by acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison, local woman Valda Shannon said the town’s families were involved in a conspiracy of silence.

Ms Kerr said the mother had three older children and the two younger ones.

Territory Families said it had opened a six-month intensive file with the mother to deal with alcohol and give her family support.

Ms Kerr said the mother had engaged with Territory Families case workers, including undertaking a rehab program and resolution disputes.

In December, it was assessed there was no risk of harm to the children.

The child is out of hospital in Adelaide and with her mother, under supervision.

The 24-year-old has been charged with unlawful sexual intercourse and will next appear in Alice Springs court on May 3.