Arabic version: استقالة مفوضة شؤون الأطفال في الإقليم الشمالي بسبب تغييرات قانونية مقترحة
Shahleena Musk has resigned as the Northern Territory children’s commissioner, a move that has prompted concern from prominent youth advocates and legal organisations. Her departure follows a parliamentary scrutiny committee’s recommendation that the Territory’s contested child protection bill be passed as drafted.
According to ABC News, … Ms Musk said her resignation had “not been made lightly” and reflected her “growing concerns” about transparency and consultation in the NT government’s decision-making. She said she was unable to support what she described as “substantial and wide-reaching changes to child protection laws” and expressed concern at her “effective sidelining” during the process. Her statement was released late on Thursday, a day after the committee greenlit amendments.
National and local figures reacted strongly. The National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People, Sue-Anne Hunter, described the circumstances as “dire” and called on the NT government to “pause” the bill. Independent member Justine Davis called the resignation “incredibly disappointing” and a “tragedy for Territory children.” NAAJA chief executive Ben Grimes warned the departure of experienced people was concerning, and SNAICC’s Catherine Liddle called the government response a “political distraction,” urging stronger powers for the commissioner and recommending an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander replacement.
The minister for Children and Families, Robyn Cahill, rejected Ms Musk’s claims that transparency was lacking, saying the commissioner lodged a submission to the Legislative Scrutiny Committee, appeared before it and had her views heard in public. The committee’s 169-page report acknowledged many opposed the changes but recommended parliament pass the bill; the scrutiny process received 150 submissions.
The story matters because oversight and scrutiny of child protection policy are central to the safety of children in care: the Office of the Children’s Commissioner NT released a report finding more than 400 notifications of alleged harm to children in the system between 2024 and 2025, and Ms Musk had been publicly vocal about changes to youth justice and the age of criminal responsibility. What happens next: stakeholders have urged the NT government to fill the role urgently.
Related sections: Australia/استراليا | Northern Territory | General | Social/إجتماعية
