WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this story contains the image of a person who is deceased.
Retired NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb will jointly lead a review into the Northern Territory's child protection system, sparked by the alleged murder of five-year-old Alice Springs girl, Kumanjayi Little Baby.
Joining her in heading up the review will be long-time NT public servant, Greg Shanahan.
The Northern Territory government announced the appointments this morning, at the same time outlining the scope of the review.
BUDGET 2026: The six-second clip that could come back to haunt the PM
The review will look at processes undertaken by child protection in the lead-up to Kumanjayi Little Baby's disappearance.
Minister for Child Protection Robyn Cahill told the ABC the aim was to "unravel what was done, what may not have been done [and] what should have been done".
The review will also consider more broadly whether child protection workers interpreted their obligations in a way that meant investigations weren't progressing "in the way that the community would expect".
The announcement comes at the same time as the government revealed new child protection legislation would be introduced to the Northern Territory parliament today.
The legislation proposes a new "universal principle" for child protection: that child safety is the primary consideration when making decisions about children's care.
LIVE UPDATES: Trump 'seriously considering' making Venezuela the 51st state
"The ongoing cycle of harm, risk and uncertainty needs to be addressed, and the only way to achieve that is to put the basic human rights of a child's safety before anything else," Cahill said.
"Under these amendments, there will be more consistent support and better outcomes for both children and their families."
Other proposed changes to child protection include reducing short-term protection orders to a maximum of two years and introducing a stricter structure of measures that must be met and upheld for children assessed at risk of being removed.
However, the proposed legislation has met with strong opposition from a number of Indigenous groups, including the Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory (APONT).
There are concerns that it would dilute the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement principle, which prioritises connection to Country and family.
"We strongly reject the NT Government's deliberate portrayal of Aboriginal families, communities, and culture as a risk to children's safety," APONT chair Theresa Roe said of the proposed legislation.
"This narrative is dangerous, ignorant, and wrong. It erases the love, strength, and protection that Aboriginal families, communities, country and culture provide every day."
Indigenous children in the territory are already more than 11 times more likely to be placed in out-of-home care than non-Indigenous children.
Despite this, NT senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price – who was also Kumanjayi Little Baby's aunt – called for legislative change in an emotional address to parliament yesterday.
READ MORE: Wendy took on a local mine. Now she's at the High Court
"For too long in this country, there has been silence around what is happening in too many town camps and remote communities – a silence driven by fear, a fear of causing offence, a fear of being labelled racist," she told Parliament.
"Vulnerable children are growing up in that silence, and it is killing our babies."
Senator Price also levelled criticism at what she described as a "hands-off culture" inside parts of the child protection system, claiming ideology and political sensitivities had been prioritised ahead of child welfare.
NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.
- Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
- Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
- Sign up to our breaking newsletter here