POLICE CALLS RING SILENT
Cops driven to despair as Child Safety ignores plea to help 9-month-old baby
CHILD Safety repeatedly ignored police calls to help the homeless family of the nine-month-old girl whose body washed up on Surfers Paradise beach this week. Despite calls from worried residents about the family since May, the Bulletin has learned the only authorities to visit were police or council staff.
Gold Coast police became so frustrated they drove the family to a relative’s house in Kingscliff last Saturday, only for the baby to be allegedly tossed into the Tweed River by her father hours later.
GOLD Coast police, frustrated that Child Safety repeatedly ignored calls for help, drove a homeless family to a relative across the border two days before a nine-month-old baby’s body washed up on a beach.
The early morning drive to Kingscliff last Saturday followed a third visit by police to the family at a Broadbeach park in just 20 hours.
The Bulletin has been told the Department of Child Safety (DOCS) failed to respond to an urgent call-out by police.
A Government source said: “The police have done a lot for the family, tried to, it was reported in the way it should, through Child Safety Services. There’s been a few occasions over the last few months.”
Despite calls from worried residents about the family since May, government sources, workers around the Broadbeach park and the homeless say the only authorities to visit were police or council staff.
Child Safety Minister Di Farmer refused to say if the department was called to the Broadbeach park by police, citing privacy and court reasons.
The Bulletin this week reported police were called at 9.50am Friday after a worker heard baby screams and adults yelling. Officers returned at 6pm. Police visited the family nine hours later at 3am Saturday, allegedly finding the father and mother intoxicated. Officers drove them to Kingscliff.
Another government source said: “Police at Broadbeach made an urgent call-out job. DOCS didn’t come.”
Police declined to provide specifics, but said: “Queensland Police did respond to all calls for service relating to this family and appropriate police action was taken.”
A worker who phoned police last Friday morning told the Bulletin: “I was concerned by this guy shouting and carrying on. It was going on for three or four minutes. How can you have this homeless baby in a park with these people who can’t control themselves?”
Police took the family to the father’s cousin at Kingscliff. The relative had been known to host up to 12 family members in a one-bedroom unit. After failing to reach agreement, the family caught a bus to Tweed Heads. It is alleged the father tossed the baby into the river that night after telling the mother he was giving the child to an elder. A DUST storm that blanketed the Gold Coast leaving the city’s famous skyline with a hazy filter should clear this morning.
The haze blew in from the west during the past few days.
Strong surface winds picked up the small particles, but Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Adam Woods said it wouldn’t last.
“The winds are now quite strong and that should help to settle it down.”
Temperatures are expected to hit 30C on the Coast today with clear skies and a low of 18C overnight.
Queensland Health warned those with sensitivities, such as asthma and allergies to be careful until conditions returned to normal.
Indigenous friends yesterday blamed authorities for not intervening. One said the family had sheltered and used new toilet and shower facilities near the Twin Towns Services Club for two months.
“The last month when it was raining they had nowhere to sleep,” he said.
LNP spokeperson for women Ros Bates said a departmental internal review followed by a Child Death Case Review Panel could take at least nine months before any recommendations.
The department faces criticism about a “reunification at all costs” policy. Staff are said to be frustrated by poor resources and high case loads.
The Bulletin has previously highlighted unrelated incidents, including attempts to reunite a pot-smoking, violent mother with her four-year-old indigenous daughter who she had bashed, and young twins who were hospitalised after their allegedly cannabis-smoking parents were placed on a parental agreement.
“How long was Child Safety aware of this family?” Ms Bates asked. “Does the minister think it is OK for a young child to be living practically under a tarp?”
LIFE TORN TO SHREDS P12 BULLETIN VIEW, P74