Carer’s past in spotlight

POLICE are investigating whether a teenager who lived with alleged child murderer Rick Thorburn before Tiahleigh Palmer suffered any harm.

The Bulletin can also reveal the foster carer is facing charges relating to two other girls, aged 4 and 11.

Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman has confirmed that in the aftermath of Tiahleigh’s disappearance, her department gave police the details of another female teenager who had spent just over two months in his care.

“There was one other placement with them – that individual is now an adult,” she said.

“That individual’s details were given to the police immediately following Tiahleigh’s disappearance.”

A police spokesman said: “As part of the investigation police have interviewed a number of children who had been at a residence in Chambers Flat.”

The Thorburns became foster parents in August 2014.

Tiahleigh was in their care for 10 months before she was found dead on the banks of the Pimpama River.

Rick Thorburn, 56, has been charged with the schoolgirl’s murder, while his son Trent has been charged with incest, perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Wife Julene and another son, Josh, have been charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Rick Thorburn came to police attention in April after a complaint was made about his conduct towards two young girls, aged 4 and 11. They had come into contact with him over a nine-month period.

Six days after the complaint was made, police charged him with nine offences relating to both children.

That complaint helped prompt the Government’s decision to hold a review into the foster care and Blue Card system, announced by Ms Fentiman this week.

Asked whether the charges against Thorburn relating to the other girls had to some degree informed her decision to order a review of the system, Ms Fentiman said: “Yes, certainly. I wouldn’t describe it as a review of the whole foster care system but certainly information sharing and the information that we rely upon for approvals.”

The Minister will also consider whether the state needs to conduct more random visits to carers.

POOR TIA BETRAYED TO THE BITTER END, P34