Former New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb is appointed to lead an independent investigation into the Northern Territory’s Department of Children and Families following the alleged murder of five-year-old Kumanjayi “Little Baby” Walker in Alice Springs. Multiple reports say Webb will work as part of a team to co-lead or lead the inquiry, which is described as focused on child protection arrangements linked to the case. The appointment comes after police allegations about the child’s death, prompting scrutiny of how child safety services operated and whether relevant processes were followed.
The articles describe the inquiry in broad terms, referring to it as an independent probe into child protection rather than a criminal investigation into the death itself. Both outlets attribute the decision to a process involving the NT government and characterize Webb’s role as bringing external oversight to the investigation. Details about the investigation’s terms of reference, timelines, and powers are not included in the excerpts provided.
