South Hedland residents have confronted the West Australian Premier during a five-hour visit to the northern town — his first since the state government announced a coronial inquest into the deaths of three local children.
The renewed investigation into Margaret Hawke's 2022 killing of her 10-year-old daughter, seven-year-old son and four-month-old baby came after sustained political and media pressure over failures by WA's Department of Child Protection.
Child protection authorities are under fire after it was reported more than a dozen children were living alone in a house in South Hedland (ABC News: Alistair Bates)
Recent weeks have seen a steady stream of political drop-ins to South Hedland, more than 1,600 kilometres north of Perth, with the premier arriving on Saturday to declare a contractor had been selected to construct a long-promised $22 million MRI facility.
However, the spotlight remained on reports first appearing in The Australian newspaper that up to 15 children had been living unsupervised in a state-owned home until September.
The Premier was accompanied by Child Protection Minister Jessica Stojkovski — her fourth trip to South Hedland in nine weeks — for an agenda dominated by closed-door discussions with government agencies and their partners.
"You've gotta come back sit with us here, camp with us and roam the streets with us, so they can see for themselves what's actually happening," said Nyamal-Pitjikarli elder Doris Eaton, who spoke with the pair at a snap meeting during their visit.
"You can't see it from Perth, you can't do fly in and fly out."
Doris Eaton (far left) met with the premier, alongside fellow elders Linda Doogiebee and Pat Mason. (ABC Pilbara: Kimberley Putland)
Departing talks with community organisation Hedland Aboriginal Strong Leaders, Mr Cook and Ms Stojkovski came under fire from a community member who identified herself as a former foster carer.
"When is the department going to be accountable and when are you going to speak to the community?" she said.
The ABC spoke with multiple other residents who expressed their frustration with the government response.
"I get confronted by people all the time. That's part of the job," Mr Cook said.
"But I fully appreciate that everyone wants to see things improve."
Progress being made, government says
There were no policy announcements about child protection during the premier's visit, nor did he meet with families impacted by the crisis.
Mr Cook said the emphasis was on consulting with the people "who are delivering the services in the community".
Dorothy Papertalk believes a coronial inquest would provide answers about what happened to her grandchildren. (ABC Pilbara: Alistair Bates)
The ABC understands Dorothy Papertalk, mother of Margaret Hawke and the children's grandmother, declined an invitation to meet with the premier.
Ms Papertalk led the campaign for an inquest, which was denied by the coroner in 2025. Ms Papertalk has requested privacy at this time.
"There are a range of families that are receiving good services, there's others that we can improve," Mr Cook said.
"The department's in a process of continuous improvement all the time."
Ms Stojkovski has ordered an assurance review of the department's handling of the Hawke murders. (ABC Pilbara: Kimberley Putland)
When questioned, Ms Stojkovski could not point to how many full-time equivalent staff positions had been filled since it was revealed in WA Parliament the Pilbara region had 11 child protection caseworker vacancies.
A relief team has been sent to South Hedland in response.
"Having those senior staff from the group, the relieving team, is really important and it's been very helpful for our staff here on the ground," Ms Stojkovski said.
The minister expects to be handed an assurance review of recommendations made in the wake of the Hawke murders by the end of the month.
'National shame': WA opposition
On Thursday, WA Commissioner for Children and Young People Jacqueline McGowan-Jones tabled a scathing assessment of the state's child protection system in parliament.
The report considered the experiences of 19 children who were placed into a secure care centre multiple times and made 56 recommendations.
"If children are brought into out-of-home care, it is because they are apparently at risk at home," Ms McGowan-Jones told the ABC.
"They were equally, if not more so, at risk, being brought into the state system."
Jacqueline McGowan-Jones handed down her review on Thursday. (ABC News: Jasmine Hughes)
WA opposition leader Basil Zempilas said it was "insulting" that the premier was not visiting affected families.
"I am absolutely astounded after nine weeks of this being in the national spotlight, the premier has finally gone up — finally — but is not meeting with any families," he said.
"This is a shocking and ignorant lack of leadership."