Territory Families Minister Kate Worden calls teen’s suicide, crash deaths ‘medical’ incidents

A Minister has walked back her testimony to a parliamentary committee after describing a teen’s suicide and a boy’s fatal crash as ‘medical’ incidents.

Territory Families Minister Kate Worden has walked back comments in which she described the deaths of two Territory teens from a suicide and a horror car crash as “medical” incidents.

During her estimates committee appearance last week, Ms Worden confirmed three children had died while in the care of Territory Families over the past 12-months.

Ms Worden said the three deaths were “through medical reasons not misadventure”.

However, in October this publication revealed that two Aboriginal teenagers in care had passed away within just three months of each other — one in a car crash and the other from suicide.

One, a 17-year-old girl, known for cultural reasons as Kulum, took her own life while in an intensive therapeutic residential care home in Katherine on October 2.

It came three-months after a beloved 15-year-old rapper was killed in a horrific crash on July 3.

During her Estimates Committee appearance Ms Worden confirmed three children had died while in the care of Territory Families over the past 12-months. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Kailab Moir, aka Palmo Stingah, was in a stolen four-wheel-drive when it crashed near the Stuart Highway turn-off to Manton Dam.

None of the five children in the car — who were between nine and 15-years-old — were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.

Both Kailab and Kulum were in residential care programs run by CASPA Services Ltd at the time of their deaths.

During estimates on Thursday, Ms Worden declined to elaborate about the circumstances of the incidents.

“I would rather not because those three children would be able to be identified, not because they were harmed,” she said.

All three deaths of the children in care will be subject to mandatory coronial inquests.

Ms Worden also revealed to estimates that an investigation had found a staff member at a residential-based care program — either CASPA or Life Without Barriers — had harmed a child in their care.

But on Tuesday the Minister walked back her earlier comments after being asked how the crash and suicide could be considered “medical” incidents.

Kailab Moir, aka Palmo Stingah, was in a stolen four-wheel-drive when it crashed near the Stuart Highway turn-off to Manton Dam. Picture: Floss Adams

“Following estimates I have received advice that not all of the deaths in care were due to medical reasons,” she said.

“I cannot comment on the circumstances of each case as they are now before the coroner.”

Opposition Territory Families spokesman Joshua Burgoyne said it was a very serious matter if Ms Worden had misled the estimates committee, saying it was ‘a very serious matter that needs to be investigated”.

Opposition Territory Families spokesman Joshua Burgoyne said it was a very serious matter if Ms Worden had misled the estimates committee. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Mr Burgoyne said there were grave concerns about the safety of children under the care of Territory Families.

“We have for a long time raised concerns that the Territory Families Minister Kate Worden is not doing enough to keep Territory kids safe,” Mr Burgoyne said.

“This should be the priority for any government, yet we continue to hear of tragic circumstances where the standard of care has led to kids being in unsafe situations.”

In response, Ms Worden rejected any suggestion she had misled the estimates committee.

“I did not mislead parliament,” she said.

“I received incorrect advice which has now been clarified.”

This is despite a spokesman for Ms Worden’s department saying in October that Territory Families were working closely with the family of the deceased young people.

The office of the NT Children’s Commissioner said it was aware of the incidents but could not provide details in relation to the individual children’s circumstances.