NT children’s commissioner resigns over child protection changes that remove Indigenous placement principle

Flowers left for Kumanjayi Little Baby in Alice Springs in May. The Northern Territory children’s commissioner, Shahleena Musk, resigned on Thursday over sweeping child protection changes introduced by the Northern Territory government in the wake of the five-year-old’s death. Photograph: Rhett Hammerton/EPA

The Northern Territory children’s commissioner has resigned over controversial changes to child protection laws, saying the Finocchiaro government had “sidelined” her in going ahead with amendments that are strongly opposed by First Nations organisations, human rights groups and legal advocates.

Shahleena Musk was appointed to the role in December 2023. In a resignation statement posted online onThursday night, the Larrakia woman said her position was now untenable.