Queensland child protection deaths surge nearly 60% in one year
In the 2025-26 financial year, 91 children known to Queensland's child safety system died, a 59.6% rise from the previous year and the highest in five years.
According to the Queensland Family and Child Commission's annual report, 452 children died in the state during the 2025-26 financial year, including 91 who were known to the child protection system—a jump of 59.6% from the previous year and the highest count in five years. Natural causes accounted for 312 deaths, while 94 resulted from external factors such as transport incidents and injuries. The report identified persistent dangers from quad bikes in rural areas and a troubling pattern of deaths tied to severe nutritional deficiencies, often linked to diets consisting almost exclusively of cow's milk.
It urged the State Coroner to improve data collection and to record the schools attended by deceased children to better detect systemic issues. Both the State Coroner and Queensland Health have begun further investigations. Labor opposition leader Steven Miles condemned the increase as a crisis under Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm, referencing earlier recommendations from a Commission of Inquiry into Child Safety.
Why it matters
The sharp rise in deaths of children under protection signals systemic failures that demand urgent policy and health interventions.
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