WA government announces coronial inquest into death of Margaret Hawke's children

A coronial inquest into the deaths of three children killed by their mother in Port Hedland has been requested by the Attorney General, after a sustained campaign led by their grandmother for answers and ongoing political pressure.

Margaret Hawke was sentenced to life in prison for the 2022 murders of the children aged 10, 7, and four months.

Tributes at the burial site of the three children in WA's north.

It emerged during court proceedings that Hawke had sought help from a women's refuge the night before the murders, but was told by staff they did not have the capacity to assist.

The children's grandmother Dorothy Papertalk had called for an inquest into their deaths, a request denied by then coroner Phil Urquhart last year.

The Attorney General had repeatedly said he was unable to order an inquest into the killings without new evidence, even releasing private legal advice on the matter.

That advice had been challenged by some of the state's top legal minds, including former Governor Malcolm McCusker KC and former president of the WA Children's Court Denis Reynolds, who said they believed the Attorney General did have the power to order the inquest.

Today the Attorney General said he had reviewed files related to the children's death, which he described as "heartbreaking", and announced he had written to the current coroner requesting an inquest.

"I'm now satisfied there is new evidence and circumstances that were not considered by the former coroner Philip Urquhart in his decision not to conduct an inquest," he said.

The Attorney General would not say what that evidence was, but earlier in the day the police minister confirmed his office had sent files related to the Hawke case to the attorney general — including body-worn cameras from responding officers.

"I have acted in the manner that I was able to do based on the advice, based on when I received the documentation, and now I have directed the coroner to conduct the inquiry," the Attorney General said.

He said the scope and timing of the inquest were matters for the coroner's court.

The Attorney General also announced a broader review into the laws guiding coronial inquests, saying they needed to be "as easy to navigate as possible."

Delay 'unfair and cruel'

Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas said the coronial request was "long, long" overdue.

"It is unfair and cruel [for Ms Papertalk] that it has taken as long as it has taken," he said.

Mr Zempilas criticised the state government for not acting fast enough.

"It is difficult to fathom why it has taken the state government this long, and through that delay they have re-traumatised Ms Papertalk by making her go through this unending agony."

"It is shameful that it has taken this long."

Shadow Minister for Child Protection Nick Goiran credited both Ms Papertalk's advocacy and media reporting for triggering the inquest.

"It is distressing that this was ever necessary. This can never happen again," he said.

Wider implications

Ms Papertalk has accused the Department of Child Protection of failing to intervene in the case of her grandchildren despite repeated warnings.

The WA ombudsman also released a statement with details of their investigation into the Hawke children's death earlier this month, but the review has not been made public.

Last month, a political firestorm erupted following reports that up to 15 children, some as young as five, were living unsupervised in a home in South Hedland.

WA Child Protection Minister Jessica Stojkovski admitted the department had been too slow to act, but pushed back on key aspects of that reporting.

The push for an inquest comes amid ongoing concerns failing of the child protection system.

Community members in South Hedland have called for a royal commission into WA's child protection agency and for the resignation of Minister Stojkovski, while the WA opposition demanded a standalone child protection body be reinstated.

National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Sue-Anne Hunter is also carrying out a review of the child protection system in the Pilbara.

The state government has also created a new role to coordinate child protection in the region and expanded the Safe Night Space in Port Hedland from three nights to seven nights a week.