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National

Review to investigate what interactions four agencies had with allegedly neglected children

SA Police Deputy Commissioner Linda Williams speaks to the media about the alleged neglect of six children in Munno Para. (ABC News: Ethan Rix)

The South Australian government will review the "interactions" four agencies had with the Adelaide mother of a six-year-old girl who died after suspected neglect.

WARNING: This story contains content that some readers may find upsetting

SA Police Deputy Commissioner Linda Williams said Charlie died on Friday after being rushed to the Lyell McEwen Hospital in the early hours of the morning. 

She said Taskforce Prime would focus on the "broader cause and circumstances of Charlie's death" and police would put "maximum resources" into the investigation.

"This is very important to us. We take this very seriously," she said.

Six-year-old Charlie was taken to hospital last Friday, but died a short time later.  (Facebook)

Ms Williams said "it was too early to say" whether her death was avoidable given there had been interactions between the family and police, and she did not know when Charlie had last attended school.

She would not comment on whether Charlie suffered from malnutrition.

Ms Williams said police would also investigate the alleged neglect of the five other children, aged between seven and 16, in the Munno Para house, who have been removed from her care. 

Acting Premier Susan Close said her government would conduct a review because four agencies, the Department for Human Services, SA Housing Authority, Department for Education and Department for Child Protection, had been involved with the family. 

"What interactions occurred, could they have been any different and are there any lessons?" she said.

Acting Premier Susan Close says the review will look into whether there are lessons from latest criminal neglect case. (ABC News: Ethan Rix)

The ABC can also report the children's father has recently been jailed for committing a serious and horrifying act of domestic violence against their mother in front of the children.

During sentencing in that case the District Court judge said the man had been a significant drug user throughout his life and was experiencing a drug-induced psychosis at the time.

The court heard the man was spending his family's money on illegal drugs and had multiple drugs – including methamphetamine — in his system at the time of the crime.

The judge noted in the sentencing remarks that all of the couple's children were at school and being cared for at the time.

System must be improved, minister

Child Protection Minister Katrine Hildyard said contact between the family and government agencies occurred "over the past couple of years" but she was unable to comment on the nature of those interactions.

"This is an absolutely heartbreaking situation – its tragic a six-year-old girl has lost her life," she said.

She said she understood how frustrating it would be for South Australians given the number of coronial inquires and reviews had been conducted into the child protection system.

"We will look at all of the chronology of services delivered and agencies engaged in relation to this particular matter, the roles, responsibilities and interactions with respective agencies and the effectiveness of interventions and government services," she said.

She said the government needed to understand "what else we can do" to improve the system.

"I and our government will be relentless in those efforts to improve the system.

"I find it shocking every day when I think about the fact that one-in-three South Australian children now have some sort of notification or interaction with the child protection department at some point in their life.

"I find that fact compelling in terms of taking action."

Charlie's five siblings have been removed from the home. (ABC News)

Neighbours describe happy girl

A woman, who did not want to be named, who went to hospital with Charlie and her mother said she was "totally heartbroken" to hear about the young girl's death.

"She was the most beautiful little girl I've ever seen in my whole life — so full of smiles, so happy, absolutely loved seeing everybody," she said.

"She loved having everyone come and see her, she loved mucking around with her sisters and her brothers, she loved her mum dearly, she loved coming over and seeing us.

Another woman said Charlie had "died to save her siblings" by highlighting their alleged neglect.

"If it wasn't for Charlie, none of this would have come to pass, none of this would have been realised," she said.

"The system failed her, absolutely failed her."

"Something needs to be done," she added.

"They can't just sit there and say 'we're going to do a review' when there's so much more that needs to be done within the system."

Munno Para residents Paul Compton and Mark, who did not give his last name, said the family seemed happy. (ABC News)

Two male neighbours, who had seen the children in their street but did not know them well, said they were surprised to hear what had happened.

"There was definitely no sign of neglect when I saw the kids," a man called Mark said.

"They're always well dressed and seemed happy — kids playing is always a good thing."

"They all seemed normal," another resident, Paul Compton, said.

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