Arabic version: ارتفاع وفيات الأطفال المرتبطة بسلامة الطفل في كوينزلاند بنسبة 59.6 في المائة

According to ABC News, 91 Queensland children known to the child protection system died during the 2025–26 financial year, preliminary figures show. The total was 59.6 per cent higher than the 57 deaths recorded in the previous year and was the highest number of deaths involving children known to child safety in five years.

The Queensland Family and Child Commission’s annual report recorded 452 child deaths statewide in 2025–26. Of those, 312 were from natural causes, while 94 resulted from external causes, including transport incidents or non-intentional injury-related deaths. The commission is responsible for recording and maintaining the state’s child-death register.

The report recommended improved coronial data collection. Its child death prevention team said recording the school attended by a deceased child could help identify systemic issues, examine patterns and strengthen prevention work. The review, released on Friday, said the recommendation remained under consideration by the State Coroner at the end of the reporting period.

The register also found quad bikes continued to pose significant risks to children living in or visiting rural communities. It identified deaths involving severe nutritional deficiencies linked to highly restricted diets. In several cases, analysis found children had diets “almost exclusively of cow’s milk”. The commission referred the findings to the State Coroner and Queensland Health, which were progressing further work to understand the issue and identify prevention opportunities.

Preliminary data recorded 102 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child deaths, compared with 88 a year earlier. In June, the Commission of Inquiry into Child Safety made 52 recommendations to address serious failures. The state government accepted 32 recommendations and accepted another 16 in principle.