NT Children's Commissioner resigns amid concerns over governance and child protection reforms

The resignation of Northern Territory Children's Commissioner Shahleena Musk has intensified scrutiny of the Territory Government's child protection reform agenda, with child advocacy organisations, Aboriginal leaders and legal experts raising concerns about governance, transparency and independent oversight.

Ms Musk, a Larrakia woman and former Crown prosecutor, announced she would step down after concluding she could no longer effectively perform her statutory role. Her decision follows months of growing tension surrounding the Northern Territory Government's proposed child protection reforms and what she described as an erosion of transparency, evidence-based decision-making and meaningful consultation.

In her resignation statement, Ms Musk said she was increasingly concerned about the direction of governance and warned that diminishing independent oversight risked undermining public confidence in institutions responsible for protecting vulnerable children.

Her resignation comes as a Country Liberal Party (CLP)-led parliamentary committee recommended that proposed amendments to the Care and Protection of Children Act proceed, despite significant opposition from legal organisations, medical bodies, Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and frontline service providers.

According to evidence presented during the inquiry, around 150 submissions were received, with approximately 120 calling for the legislation to be rejected or substantially amended.

National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Sue-Anne Hunter said Ms Musk's resignation highlighted broader concerns about the role of independent oversight in protecting First Nations children.

Commissioner Hunter described the circumstances surrounding the resignation as deeply concerning and said the inability of the Children's Commissioner to effectively carry out her legislated responsibilities raised important questions about accountability and the consideration of expert advice during major child protection reforms.

Northern Territory Opposition Leader Selena Uibo, the first Indigenous woman to lead a major political party in Australia, also described the resignation as a significant development, saying the issues raised by Ms Musk should be carefully considered as part of the ongoing debate about child protection policy and governance.

Since coming to office in 2024, the CLP Government has introduced a range of justice and child protection reforms that have generated significant debate among sector organisations and Aboriginal representative bodies.

Critics of the proposed amendments to the Care and Protection of Children Act argue the changes could:

• lower the threshold for removing children from their families
• weaken the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle (ATSICPP)
• increase the likelihood of Aboriginal children being placed in long-term care with non-Aboriginal carers.

The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT) has warned the proposed changes could have significant long-term impacts on Aboriginal children, families and communities.

SNAICC – National Voice for our Children has also criticised the parliamentary committee's recommendation, arguing the proposed reforms do not reflect the weight of evidence presented during the consultation process and risk undermining established child protection principles.

Throughout her resignation statement, Ms Musk emphasised that independent statutory oversight plays a critical role in strengthening child protection systems and supporting good governance.

She called for future reforms affecting vulnerable children to be informed by evidence, meaningful consultation and the expertise of independent oversight bodies established to safeguard children's rights and wellbeing.

The Northern Territory Government has maintained that its proposed reforms are intended to strengthen child protection and improve outcomes for vulnerable children. The legislation now proceeds through the parliamentary process.

While the reforms relate specifically to the Northern Territory child protection system rather than early childhood education and care, the developments are likely to be closely watched across the ECEC sector. Recent national discussions about child safeguarding have reinforced the importance of independent oversight, transparent governance and evidence-informed policy in protecting vulnerable children.

The Commissioner's resignation is expected to add further momentum to those discussions as governments across Australia continue reviewing child safety and safeguarding frameworks.

Read the original reporting by the National Indigenous Times here.