Two Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) workers have been suspended after a failure to implement proper policies led to two foster children being allowed to live with a serial killer.NSW Minister for Communities and Families Kate Washington admitted that a tip-off and a report to the department were not properly followed up, allowing two foster children, aged 12 and 14, to live with Reginald Arthurell in out-of-home care in Sydney’s west.
Arthurell, also known as Reginal Arthurell, was convicted of bludgeoning fiancee Venet Mulhall, to death at Coonabarabran in 1995 while on parole.
Reginald Arthurell is a convicted serial killer who was paroled in 2020. (Supplied)
He had earlier killed his stepfather in the 1970s and a sailor in the 1980s, and was paroled in 2020.
Speaking on 2GB’s Ben Fordham Live, Washington said the DCJ was first informed of the decision to allow children to live with Arthurell late last year, but she said the report was closed without a proper follow-up.
“It was closed based on unverified information about Arthurell and his possible incapacity, his age, [he’s] in a wheelchair, and having a full-time carer,” Washington said.
“It just wasn’t investigated, and that was contrary to policies and procedures in the department.”
She said the decision was made by one individual within the department, who has now been suspended pending a misconduct process.
There was a second instance of the department being made aware of a child entering the house where Arthurell last month, where Washington admitted the previous report from the December incident was not followed up.
“A simple check of DCJ’s system would have revealed that Arthurell was in that house. Instead, approval was given, and again, it was against department policies and procedures,” she said.
Minister for Family and Communities Kate Washington said two DCJ workers had been suspended, pending misconduct processes and investigations. (Dion Georgopoulos)
“A simple check on our system would have shown that report from December.”
Washington said the person responsible for that decision had also been suspended.
While she admitted the decisions made fell short of the standards expected and of the DCJ’s policies and procedures, she insisted it was not the result of institutional issues, and defended the work of her department overall.
“They are working in very difficult, complex environments,” she said.
“Our DCJ child protection caseworkers see the worst of the worst in our society. They walk into homes where parents are harming their children.
“There are difficult decisions made daily by our caseworkers, but we do expect them to follow department policies and procedures.”
Arthurell is no longer living with the children.
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