CASWA Chair Chris Bin Kali said exceptional circumstances, as a result of dogged journalism by The Australian newspaper, had now come to light that warranted a coronial inquest into the deaths of 10-year-old Jamelia, Arnda, 7, and four-month-old baby Kelvin.
The children were killed by their mother Margaret Dale Hawke before she set their home alight in the Pilbara town in July 2022. Hawke is serving a life sentence in prison.
“These children were not invisible,” Mr Bin Kali said. “They were known to police, known to their school and known to the Departments of Housing and Communities. Every one of those agencies failed to help keep them safe.
“A coronial inquest into the deaths of these three innocent children is the only appropriate course of inquiry. A departmental review cannot compel a witness to give evidence. A coronial inquest can.
“We need to ensure the Hawke children do not become just another sad statistic. We need to ensure that their family receives the truth and transparency they deserve so this sort of tragedy can never happen again.”
The WA Ombudsman report, A Review of Family and Domestic Violence in Western Australia, published in March this year showed 29 children, including nine Aboriginal children, died by filicide between 1 July 2012 and 30 June 2025.
Shockingly, almost two-thirds (61%) of all filicide victims had contact with the Department of Communities in the two years before their deaths. Of these, more than half (53%) were an open case – meaning the agency was actively managing, investigating or providing ongoing support.
“These statistics are an unacceptable over-representation of Aboriginal children and demand urgent attention,” Mr Bin Kali said. “These are children who should be growing up in safe, loving environments, surrounded by family, culture and community.
Mr Bin Kali said delivery of WA’s early intervention and out-of-home care should be transferred to Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, and a delegated statutory authority for ACCOs established in line with Closing the Gap priorities.
“We cannot look at this data and continue, business as usual. We need to ensure there are culturally safe, Aboriginal-led, and appropriately funded support and early intervention services that reach Aboriginal families in WA well before they reach crisis-point. We can not have this happen again, ever. Our children deserve better,” he said.
Across Western Australia, ACCOs deliver programs and services grounded in culture, community knowledge and lived experience – from health and healing initiatives, to early years, justice, and housing. These approaches consistently demonstrate that Aboriginal designed and Aboriginal-led solutions are central to improving outcomes for Aboriginal people.
Ends
MEDIA CONTACT
Council of Aboriginal Services WA
Nicole Cox – 0419 941 443
nicole@nicolecoxmedia.com.au
Interviews available on request.
