Justice Simon Moore, KC, was appointed as the sole member of the inquiry. He was given a report-back date of today, July 21, 2026. The inquiry has kept to that date.
Collins said at the time the “decision to establish a public inquiry reflects the significant public interest and concern for the children’s welfare over the almost four years they were missing”.
“It is important that we establish the facts and determine whether agencies could take steps to prevent or resolve similar situations more quickly and effectively in the future,” she said at the time.
Collins said the terms of reference for the inquiry had been developed with the privacy and welfare of these especially vulnerable children in mind.
It was conducted in private and without public hearings. The inquiry was also told to respect the independence of the courts and will not include findings on judicial decisions.