The Northern Territory Parliament has passed controversial amendments to the Child Protection Act, with the governing Country Liberal Party (CLP) describing the package as “the most significant reform of the child protection system in a generation.” The government says the changes will enable earlier intervention in high-risk families and strengthen child safety.
However, a number of Indigenous organisations, legal groups, and child advocacy bodies have criticised the legislation, arguing that it could weaken the connection between Aboriginal children, their families, and their culture. They also accuse the government of ignoring expert advice and failing to address underlying issues such as inadequate staffing and resources.
Northern Territory Minister for Children and Families Robyn Cahill said the new laws require the government to provide earlier and more proactive support to vulnerable families, rather than waiting until children are already in crisis. She stressed that, wherever it is safe to do so, efforts will continue to be made to maintain Aboriginal children’s connections with their relatives and cultural heritage.
The amendments also revise the application of the Aboriginal Child Placement Principle. The government said the changes are intended to “modernise” the framework by applying universal principles that prioritise the best interests of every child, regardless of background.
Indigenous organisations, however, argue that the reforms effectively weaken existing safeguards and increase the risk of Aboriginal children being removed from their families and communities. Catherine Liddle, Chief Executive of the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC), criticised the government for disregarding extensive evidence provided by experts and people with lived experience. She said cultural identity is itself a critical component of child safety and warned that weakening these protections could have long-term consequences.
Independent MPs and members of the legal profession also criticised the government for rushing the legislation through Parliament without adequately responding to public consultation. More than 100 submissions from legal services, women’s organisations, and Indigenous representatives were previously lodged with the parliamentary inquiry, arguing that the primary problems with the current system stem from staff shortages, inadequate resources, and limited operational capacity, rather than flaws in the legislative framework itself.
On the same day, the Northern Territory Government also released an independent review into the death of a five-year-old Aboriginal girl. The report identified management and operational failures within the child protection system and made seven recommendations for reform, including a comprehensive overhaul of the department’s operating model.