After 1,700 pages of agency records exposed, WA Premier still refuses to launch inquest into Hawke children case

In 2022, Margaret Hawke murdered her three children — aged just 10, 7 and four months — in South Hedland, Pilbara region of Western Australia. Western Australian Ombudsman Bevan Warner recently broke from the usual practice of not disclosing case-specific information, stating that media coverage has made a public investigation essential to maintaining public confidence, and therefore released detailed investigation records.

According to ABC News, Warner's investigation reviewed police body-worn camera footage, more than 1,700 pages of agency files, and police reports involving 17 calls for assistance and six domestic violence incidents. On the day the Ombudsman released his statement, Premier Roger Cook acknowledged that the information "provided an opportunity for further consideration (by the coroner)", but made clear he would not be asking Attorney-General Tony Buti to launch an inquest.

Buti had previously repeatedly denied that he possessed the authority to order an investigation and released related private legal opinions. This position was challenged in an open letter by former Governor Malcolm McCusker KC and former president of the Children's Court Denis Reynolds. Reynolds, citing the Coroners Act 1996 on ABC Perth Radio 102.5, noted that the law "sets out very clearly and unconditionally" the Attorney-General's power to direct the state coroner to conduct an investigation. Buti responded by saying he was "accepting the legal advice provided by the Solicitor-General".

Liberal Party leader Basil Zempilas pressed in State Parliament: "If there is new evidence, what are we waiting for? What is the Attorney-General doing? Why has no inquest been launched to date?" He demanded clarification on whether the details in the Ombudsman's report had been referred to the coroner for review, and said the explanations given so far by the Premier and Attorney-General were "satisfactory to no one".

The children's grandmother Dorothy Papertalk has been calling for an inquest since the tragedy occurred. In 2025, the then-coroner Phil Urquhart refused this request. There is disagreement between the Premier and the Attorney-General, which has not been publicly verified, over whether the content released by the Ombudsman constitutes new evidence not previously available to Urquhart. Buti stated that, if new evidence not considered by the former coroner were obtained, he "could consider exercising the power to order an investigation".

On the same day the Ombudsman released the information, the National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children, Sue-Anne Hunter, announced the terms of reference for a Pilbara child protection review. The review stems from earlier this year when reports disclosed that local children were living in unsupervised, harsh conditions, triggering a political storm. Hunter visited Port Hedland last month.

Hunter made clear: "Government must bring about real improvements for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families, not merely report the number of activities it has undertaken." The review will examine how agencies handle children and families, how effectively they work together, and where responses could be improved. The scope covers children who have been removed from the region or are in out-of-home care placements, as well as young people aged 18 to 24 who have left the care system.

Hunter stressed the scope would not investigate cases currently under investigation or in coronial proceedings, but may examine commonalities in significant cases. Regarding the Hawke case, she said she would "possibly" consider including it, and revealed she had spoken with Papertalk and hoped to communicate again to incorporate her views.