❓ Hon Nick Goiran asks about long-term missing children cases in WA, specifically regarding the oldest and most recent cases. The Minister provides details on review processes and the status of the most recent case.
AnsweredQoN 237Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Police—Missing persons
237. Hon Nick Goiran to the minister representing the Minister for Police:
I refer to the
answer to my question without notice asked on 22 May 2025 ahead of International
Missing Children's Day, which revealed that there are 25 cases of Western Australian
children reported as missing.
(1) Can the minister confirm that missing child
number 1 has been listed as missing for 71 years?
(2) Are long-term missing children cases subject
to periodic review and, if so, at what intervals are such reviews undertaken?
(3) In relation to missing child number 25:
(a) on what date did that child go missing;
(b) how old was the child when they went missing;
and
(c) will the minister provide further information
about this case so the public can be of assistance?
237. Hon Nick Goiran to the minister representing the Minister for Police:
I refer to the
answer to my question without notice asked on 22 May 2025 ahead of International
Missing Children's Day, which revealed that there are 25 cases of Western Australian
children reported as missing.
(1) Can the minister confirm that missing child
number 1 has been listed as missing for 71 years?
(2) Are long-term missing children cases subject
to periodic review and, if so, at what intervals are such reviews undertaken?
(3) In relation to missing child number 25:
(a) on what date did that child go missing;
(b) how old was the child when they went missing;
and
(c) will the minister provide further information
about this case so the public can be of assistance?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for some notice of the question. The following answer has been provided to me
by the Minister for Police.
(1) Yes.
(2) The review process for long-term missing
person cases, whether involving adults or children, depends on which business
unit is responsible for the investigation. Cases managed by cold case investigations
that are considered suspicious are subject to its specific review procedures.
Cases not considered suspicious are managed by the missing person team and are
subject to ongoing reviews and proof-of-life checks until they are brought
before a coroner for inquest.
(3) (a) It was 3 December 2020.
(b) The child was 14 years of age.
(c) This child has a profile on the publicly
accessible Australian Missing Persons Register. That child was the subject of a
coronial inquest, the finding of which, delivered in January 2024, declared him
deceased, despite his body not being located.
for some notice of the question. The following answer has been provided to me
by the Minister for Police.
(1) Yes.
(2) The review process for long-term missing
person cases, whether involving adults or children, depends on which business
unit is responsible for the investigation. Cases managed by cold case investigations
that are considered suspicious are subject to its specific review procedures.
Cases not considered suspicious are managed by the missing person team and are
subject to ongoing reviews and proof-of-life checks until they are brought
before a coroner for inquest.
(3) (a) It was 3 December 2020.
(b) The child was 14 years of age.
(c) This child has a profile on the publicly
accessible Australian Missing Persons Register. That child was the subject of a
coronial inquest, the finding of which, delivered in January 2024, declared him
deceased, despite his body not being located.
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