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In the past, she was responsible for the deaths of her stepfather during the 1970s and a sailor in the 1980s.
Kate Washington, the NSW Minister for Communities and Families, expressed her astonishment on Ben Fordham’s 2GB radio show upon discovering the children’s circumstances through the broadcast.
“The revelations you’ve brought to light are deeply disturbing, and the conditions these children faced are both impermissible and should never have been tolerated,” Washington remarked.
“Having a vulnerable child under state care reside with someone convicted of three murders is utterly unacceptable,” she continued.
“This situation should have never arisen, and I sincerely apologize for this oversight,” Washington concluded.
Arthurell is no longer living in the same home as the children.
Washington said she has ordered an urgent review and would make any changes necessary.
Later in the interview, she said as the minister responsible for the children “the buck stops with me on this”.
”That’s why we are going to get to the bottom of it and it’s just something that ought to have never happened,” she said.
“At least we do now know and we’ve acted and they’re no longer in that house but the scenario should have never happened in the first place.”
Washington also said there were “some complexities in the situation” that she could not share publicly to protect the privacy of the children involved.
“But the fact is something has gone terribly wrong here,” she said.
“I want to be as open and transparent and accountable as possible.
“I know that’s what everyone expects.
“The department was made aware of the situation in late December and some very poor decisions were made at that time.
“I wish I could turn back the clock but I can’t.”
A whistleblower told Fordham earlier this week she had been in contact with the NSW Police and NSW Department of Corrective Services since February 12 about the issue.
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