WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this story contains the image of a deceased person.
“I find it deeply painful to stand here in this chamber today, compelled to offer a condolence speech for a young girl within my own family,” she expressed, her words heavy with emotion.
“She was cherished. Her presence should still grace our lives.”
The Northern Territory senator spoke of the profound impact her five-year-old niece’s death has had on her family. However, she also noted that the tragic circumstances surrounding the loss resonate with many families in Central Australia, highlighting a shared and painful reality.
The Northern Territory senator said her five-year-old niece’s death had devastated her family, but the circumstances surrounding the tragedy were familiar to many people in Central Australia.
“And the hardest truth is that for many in my hometown, none of this came as a surprise. But the truth is that people do not want to speak this out loud,” Senator Price told the chamber.
In her address, she said governments and institutions avoid difficult conversations about violence, neglect and alcohol abuse in town camps and remote communities.
“For too long in this country, there has been silence around what is happening in too many town camps and remote communities – a silence driven by fear, a fear of causing offence, a fear of being labelled racist,” she said.
“Vulnerable children are growing up in that silence, and it is killing our babies.”
Senator Price also levelled criticism at what she described as a “hands-off culture” inside parts of the child protection system, claiming ideology and political sensitivities had been prioritised ahead of child welfare.
“My niece was a little Australian girl, yet there is an ideology in this country that has deliberately encouraged people to treat children like her differently because of her racial heritage,” she said.
“It’s that same ideology that has created a hands-off culture within parts of a child protection system.”
Her speech came as the Northern Territory government announced an independent review into the territory’s child protection system in response to the five-year-old’s alleged murder.
Robyn Cahill said the review would examine the system “from top to bottom”, including legislation, staffing, resources and workplace culture.
“Every Territory child deserves to be safe, that is not negotiable,” Cahill said.
“We need to get to the bottom of what’s broken and what needs to change.”
The review’s full terms of reference are due to be released next week.
The government has also confirmed three child protection workers have been stood down while investigators examine the events leading up to the discovery of Kumanjayi Little Baby’s body.
For 24/7 crisis support run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, contact 13YARN (13 92 76).
NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.