Speaking after the announcement of a reward for information leading the arrest of anybody involved in the sexual exploitation of Aboriginal children, Mr Humphries said extensive inter-agency attempts to follow up on allegations had often been frustrated.

“There a number of issues (following claims),” he said.

Determining “hearsay versus fact” could be a huge challenge for welfare authorities, Mr Humphries said.

“A large number of DoCS workers work in the Boggabilla area, and they haven’t been able to get any notifications,” he said.

Case workers have for several years been focussing on keeping children safe within their own communities, Mr Humphries said.

“There have been a lot of accusations made,” he said. People were often very unwilling to follow up on these claims and provide concrete evidence.

Claims that adolescents had become involved in the highway sex trade had intensified attempts to protect North West children.

“That’s where the two crossed over and that’s where the police have been upping the ante and working in co-operation with DoCS,” Mr Humphries said.