❓ A parliamentary question regarding the death of Jessicarose Garvey and other infant deaths, questioning why they were initially classified as SIDS despite evidence of other causes and the department's involvement with the families.
AnsweredQoN 701Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
JESSICAROSE GARVEY
I refer to Jessicarose Garvey, a four-month-old baby who was known to the Department for Community Development before her death in July 2003. She died in horrific circumstances. She had a broken arm - the bone had been snapped in two - collarbone injuries, broken ribs, fractures to a hip, knees and ankles, numerous bruises, and serious swelling and haemorrhaging in the brain. (1) Will the minister detail why on child death notifications received between 1 July and 31 July 2003 on “Internal Reviews to be Undertaken” - DCD internal document - under the heading “Cause identified by Coroner” Jessicarose is noted as having died from possible sudden infant death syndrome; baby stopped breathing in the early evening after being fed; ambulance attended but could not be revived? (2) Will the minister detail whether the cause of death was written in by the Director General of the Department for Community Development; and, if so, why? (3) The same page also lists a two-month-old baby girl whose family had 17 contacts with the department before she died, and the cause of death is noted as possible SIDS; baby died overnight while sleeping on a mattress in the family home. What was the cause of this child’s death? (4) The same page also lists a three-month-old baby girl whose family had three contacts with the department before her death, and the cause of death is noted as possible SIDS; found in the early morning not breathing and cold, taken to hospital but could not be revived. What was the cause of this child’s death? (5) Why are these children listed as SIDS deaths? (6) Why does the department have a heading “Cause identified by Coroner” when SIDS was obviously not the cause of death of Jessicarose Garvey? Hon KATE DOUST
I refer to Jessicarose Garvey, a four-month-old baby who was known to the Department for Community Development before her death in July 2003. She died in horrific circumstances. She had a broken arm - the bone had been snapped in two - collarbone injuries, broken ribs, fractures to a hip, knees and ankles, numerous bruises, and serious swelling and haemorrhaging in the brain. (1) Will the minister detail why on child death notifications received between 1 July and 31 July 2003 on “Internal Reviews to be Undertaken” - DCD internal document - under the heading “Cause identified by Coroner” Jessicarose is noted as having died from possible sudden infant death syndrome; baby stopped breathing in the early evening after being fed; ambulance attended but could not be revived? (2) Will the minister detail whether the cause of death was written in by the Director General of the Department for Community Development; and, if so, why? (3) The same page also lists a two-month-old baby girl whose family had 17 contacts with the department before she died, and the cause of death is noted as possible SIDS; baby died overnight while sleeping on a mattress in the family home. What was the cause of this child’s death? (4) The same page also lists a three-month-old baby girl whose family had three contacts with the department before her death, and the cause of death is noted as possible SIDS; found in the early morning not breathing and cold, taken to hospital but could not be revived. What was the cause of this child’s death? (5) Why are these children listed as SIDS deaths? (6) Why does the department have a heading “Cause identified by Coroner” when SIDS was obviously not the cause of death of Jessicarose Garvey? Hon KATE DOUST
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1)-(2) This is based on information provided in the notification to the department from the coroner. (3)-(5) All questions about causes of death should be referred to the coroner. (6) The director general routinely advises the Child Death Review Committee of notifications from the coroner when the case is to be referred to the committee for review.
(1) Will the minister detail why on child death notifications received between 1 July and 31 July 2003 on “Internal Reviews to be Undertaken” - DCD internal document - under the heading “Cause identified by Coroner” Jessicarose is noted as having died from possible sudden infant death syndrome; baby stopped breathing in the early evening after being fed; ambulance attended but could not be revived? (2) Will the minister detail whether the cause of death was written in by the Director General of the Department for Community Development; and, if so, why? (3) The same page also lists a two-month-old baby girl whose family had 17 contacts with the department before she died, and the cause of death is noted as possible SIDS; baby died overnight while sleeping on a mattress in the family home. What was the cause of this child’s death? (4) The same page also lists a three-month-old baby girl whose family had three contacts with the department before her death, and the cause of death is noted as possible SIDS; found in the early morning not breathing and cold, taken to hospital but could not be revived. What was the cause of this child’s death? (5) Why are these children listed as SIDS deaths? (6) Why does the department have a heading “Cause identified by Coroner” when SIDS was obviously not the cause of death of Jessicarose Garvey? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1)-(2) This is based on information provided in the notification to the department from the coroner. (3)-(5) All questions about causes of death should be referred to the coroner. (6) The director general routinely advises the Child Death Review Committee of notifications from the coroner when the case is to be referred to the committee for review.
(2) Will the minister detail whether the cause of death was written in by the Director General of the Department for Community Development; and, if so, why? (3) The same page also lists a two-month-old baby girl whose family had 17 contacts with the department before she died, and the cause of death is noted as possible SIDS; baby died overnight while sleeping on a mattress in the family home. What was the cause of this child’s death? (4) The same page also lists a three-month-old baby girl whose family had three contacts with the department before her death, and the cause of death is noted as possible SIDS; found in the early morning not breathing and cold, taken to hospital but could not be revived. What was the cause of this child’s death? (5) Why are these children listed as SIDS deaths? (6) Why does the department have a heading “Cause identified by Coroner” when SIDS was obviously not the cause of death of Jessicarose Garvey? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1)-(2) This is based on information provided in the notification to the department from the coroner. (3)-(5) All questions about causes of death should be referred to the coroner. (6) The director general routinely advises the Child Death Review Committee of notifications from the coroner when the case is to be referred to the committee for review.
(3) The same page also lists a two-month-old baby girl whose family had 17 contacts with the department before she died, and the cause of death is noted as possible SIDS; baby died overnight while sleeping on a mattress in the family home. What was the cause of this child’s death? (4) The same page also lists a three-month-old baby girl whose family had three contacts with the department before her death, and the cause of death is noted as possible SIDS; found in the early morning not breathing and cold, taken to hospital but could not be revived. What was the cause of this child’s death? (5) Why are these children listed as SIDS deaths? (6) Why does the department have a heading “Cause identified by Coroner” when SIDS was obviously not the cause of death of Jessicarose Garvey? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1)-(2) This is based on information provided in the notification to the department from the coroner. (3)-(5) All questions about causes of death should be referred to the coroner. (6) The director general routinely advises the Child Death Review Committee of notifications from the coroner when the case is to be referred to the committee for review.
(4) The same page also lists a three-month-old baby girl whose family had three contacts with the department before her death, and the cause of death is noted as possible SIDS; found in the early morning not breathing and cold, taken to hospital but could not be revived. What was the cause of this child’s death? (5) Why are these children listed as SIDS deaths? (6) Why does the department have a heading “Cause identified by Coroner” when SIDS was obviously not the cause of death of Jessicarose Garvey? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1)-(2) This is based on information provided in the notification to the department from the coroner. (3)-(5) All questions about causes of death should be referred to the coroner. (6) The director general routinely advises the Child Death Review Committee of notifications from the coroner when the case is to be referred to the committee for review.
(5) Why are these children listed as SIDS deaths? (6) Why does the department have a heading “Cause identified by Coroner” when SIDS was obviously not the cause of death of Jessicarose Garvey? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1)-(2) This is based on information provided in the notification to the department from the coroner. (3)-(5) All questions about causes of death should be referred to the coroner. (6) The director general routinely advises the Child Death Review Committee of notifications from the coroner when the case is to be referred to the committee for review.
(6) Why does the department have a heading “Cause identified by Coroner” when SIDS was obviously not the cause of death of Jessicarose Garvey? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1)-(2) This is based on information provided in the notification to the department from the coroner. (3)-(5) All questions about causes of death should be referred to the coroner. (6) The director general routinely advises the Child Death Review Committee of notifications from the coroner when the case is to be referred to the committee for review.
Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1)-(2) This is based on information provided in the notification to the department from the coroner. (3)-(5) All questions about causes of death should be referred to the coroner. (6) The director general routinely advises the Child Death Review Committee of notifications from the coroner when the case is to be referred to the committee for review.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1)-(2) This is based on information provided in the notification to the department from the coroner. (3)-(5) All questions about causes of death should be referred to the coroner. (6) The director general routinely advises the Child Death Review Committee of notifications from the coroner when the case is to be referred to the committee for review.
(1)-(2) This is based on information provided in the notification to the department from the coroner. (3)-(5) All questions about causes of death should be referred to the coroner. (6) The director general routinely advises the Child Death Review Committee of notifications from the coroner when the case is to be referred to the committee for review.
(3)-(5) All questions about causes of death should be referred to the coroner. (6) The director general routinely advises the Child Death Review Committee of notifications from the coroner when the case is to be referred to the committee for review.
(6) The director general routinely advises the Child Death Review Committee of notifications from the coroner when the case is to be referred to the committee for review.
(1) Will the minister detail why on child death notifications received between 1 July and 31 July 2003 on “Internal Reviews to be Undertaken” - DCD internal document - under the heading “Cause identified by Coroner” Jessicarose is noted as having died from possible sudden infant death syndrome; baby stopped breathing in the early evening after being fed; ambulance attended but could not be revived? (2) Will the minister detail whether the cause of death was written in by the Director General of the Department for Community Development; and, if so, why? (3) The same page also lists a two-month-old baby girl whose family had 17 contacts with the department before she died, and the cause of death is noted as possible SIDS; baby died overnight while sleeping on a mattress in the family home. What was the cause of this child’s death? (4) The same page also lists a three-month-old baby girl whose family had three contacts with the department before her death, and the cause of death is noted as possible SIDS; found in the early morning not breathing and cold, taken to hospital but could not be revived. What was the cause of this child’s death? (5) Why are these children listed as SIDS deaths? (6) Why does the department have a heading “Cause identified by Coroner” when SIDS was obviously not the cause of death of Jessicarose Garvey? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1)-(2) This is based on information provided in the notification to the department from the coroner. (3)-(5) All questions about causes of death should be referred to the coroner. (6) The director general routinely advises the Child Death Review Committee of notifications from the coroner when the case is to be referred to the committee for review.
(2) Will the minister detail whether the cause of death was written in by the Director General of the Department for Community Development; and, if so, why? (3) The same page also lists a two-month-old baby girl whose family had 17 contacts with the department before she died, and the cause of death is noted as possible SIDS; baby died overnight while sleeping on a mattress in the family home. What was the cause of this child’s death? (4) The same page also lists a three-month-old baby girl whose family had three contacts with the department before her death, and the cause of death is noted as possible SIDS; found in the early morning not breathing and cold, taken to hospital but could not be revived. What was the cause of this child’s death? (5) Why are these children listed as SIDS deaths? (6) Why does the department have a heading “Cause identified by Coroner” when SIDS was obviously not the cause of death of Jessicarose Garvey? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1)-(2) This is based on information provided in the notification to the department from the coroner. (3)-(5) All questions about causes of death should be referred to the coroner. (6) The director general routinely advises the Child Death Review Committee of notifications from the coroner when the case is to be referred to the committee for review.
(3) The same page also lists a two-month-old baby girl whose family had 17 contacts with the department before she died, and the cause of death is noted as possible SIDS; baby died overnight while sleeping on a mattress in the family home. What was the cause of this child’s death? (4) The same page also lists a three-month-old baby girl whose family had three contacts with the department before her death, and the cause of death is noted as possible SIDS; found in the early morning not breathing and cold, taken to hospital but could not be revived. What was the cause of this child’s death? (5) Why are these children listed as SIDS deaths? (6) Why does the department have a heading “Cause identified by Coroner” when SIDS was obviously not the cause of death of Jessicarose Garvey? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1)-(2) This is based on information provided in the notification to the department from the coroner. (3)-(5) All questions about causes of death should be referred to the coroner. (6) The director general routinely advises the Child Death Review Committee of notifications from the coroner when the case is to be referred to the committee for review.
(4) The same page also lists a three-month-old baby girl whose family had three contacts with the department before her death, and the cause of death is noted as possible SIDS; found in the early morning not breathing and cold, taken to hospital but could not be revived. What was the cause of this child’s death? (5) Why are these children listed as SIDS deaths? (6) Why does the department have a heading “Cause identified by Coroner” when SIDS was obviously not the cause of death of Jessicarose Garvey? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1)-(2) This is based on information provided in the notification to the department from the coroner. (3)-(5) All questions about causes of death should be referred to the coroner. (6) The director general routinely advises the Child Death Review Committee of notifications from the coroner when the case is to be referred to the committee for review.
(5) Why are these children listed as SIDS deaths? (6) Why does the department have a heading “Cause identified by Coroner” when SIDS was obviously not the cause of death of Jessicarose Garvey? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1)-(2) This is based on information provided in the notification to the department from the coroner. (3)-(5) All questions about causes of death should be referred to the coroner. (6) The director general routinely advises the Child Death Review Committee of notifications from the coroner when the case is to be referred to the committee for review.
(6) Why does the department have a heading “Cause identified by Coroner” when SIDS was obviously not the cause of death of Jessicarose Garvey? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1)-(2) This is based on information provided in the notification to the department from the coroner. (3)-(5) All questions about causes of death should be referred to the coroner. (6) The director general routinely advises the Child Death Review Committee of notifications from the coroner when the case is to be referred to the committee for review.
Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1)-(2) This is based on information provided in the notification to the department from the coroner. (3)-(5) All questions about causes of death should be referred to the coroner. (6) The director general routinely advises the Child Death Review Committee of notifications from the coroner when the case is to be referred to the committee for review.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1)-(2) This is based on information provided in the notification to the department from the coroner. (3)-(5) All questions about causes of death should be referred to the coroner. (6) The director general routinely advises the Child Death Review Committee of notifications from the coroner when the case is to be referred to the committee for review.
(1)-(2) This is based on information provided in the notification to the department from the coroner. (3)-(5) All questions about causes of death should be referred to the coroner. (6) The director general routinely advises the Child Death Review Committee of notifications from the coroner when the case is to be referred to the committee for review.
(3)-(5) All questions about causes of death should be referred to the coroner. (6) The director general routinely advises the Child Death Review Committee of notifications from the coroner when the case is to be referred to the committee for review.
(6) The director general routinely advises the Child Death Review Committee of notifications from the coroner when the case is to be referred to the committee for review.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.