A 10-year-old boy from the Indigenous community died while he was in state care in Perth last week.
His relatives have disputed reports that he committed suicide.
He was one of six kids removed from their homes in 2020 due to concerns about their parents’ substance abuse.
The boy’s death has reignited the debate about the controversial issue of child removals and the high rate of suicide among Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginal people.
One source claimed that the WA Police initially thought it was a suicide, though the investigation is still ongoing.
According to his relatives, the boy’s death was likely caused by a tragic accident.
They also criticized the media for reporting the incident in an inaccurate manner.
One of the family members noted that the child was reportedly in a happy mood before the incident.
According to another family member, the boy had been struggling with issues related to his past. He reportedly put his school uniform inside the washing machine on the day of his death.
The person close to the boy’s family noted that it was not abnormal for him to act like this. This week, the NSPTRP, which was authorized by his parents to publicize the boy’s tragic death, released a statement about the incident. The organization’s director, Megan Krakouer, said the boy’s family is going through a difficult time.
This incident has tarnished the image of our nation and our state. The child was a vibrant and lively boy who was loved by his family. Unfortunately, they were not able to get him back. His parents have faced many challenges in their lives, and they have remained strong.
Lidia Thorpe, an independent senator, criticized the federal government for its handling of the boy’s death. She referred to it as a national shame and referred to the removal of aboriginal children as an ongoing genocidal project.