The mother had been living at the camp with her partner for about five months, according to multiple reports. Beck Lee, the mother's cousin, said the family was unaware of the pregnancy and that the mother had fled domestic violence and was trying to rebuild her life. Lee also stated that the mother has never had issues with drugs or alcohol, and that she is not Aboriginal and not white.
The mother has other children who were not present during the birth. The encampment is on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River, and the closest public toilets are a 10- to 15-minute walk away and closed overnight, according to major media reports. Residents of a nearby apartment block described conditions as 'worse than a Syrian war camp'.
Worse than a Syrian war camp.
The Wagga Wagga city council confirmed that it had been asked by apartment residents to restrict water access to the camp. A community meeting on Tuesday night called for the council to provide amenities to the encampment. City councillor Amelia Parkins said at a press conference that the council could provide short-term options for hygiene and sanitation, and that access to clean water is a fundamental human right.
The mother has been discharged from hospital, according to major media reports. Her partner called triple-zero on Saturday. The mother was known to the Department of Communities and Justice and had been in contact with Homes NSW for several years, according to major media reports.
This is my cousin you're all talking about. Before you keep making assumptions and spreading lies, understand this – you don't know her or her situation.
Beck Lee, the mother's cousin, said on social media that the mother was actively trying to secure housing but faced long waitlists for public housing. Lee also said that the family is heartbroken and trying to process the loss, and that some comments about the mother have been disgraceful. There is a contradiction regarding the mother's ethnicity: The Guardian identifies the mother as Indigenous, while the Daily Mail quotes the cousin denying she is Aboriginal.
The cause of the newborn's death and why the mother went into labor without seeking medical help remain unknown. The current condition of the surviving twin has not been disclosed.
Our family wasn't even aware of the pregnancy, but one thing I will make very clear is that she has never had issues with drugs or alcohol.
The stories some of you are creating are simply not true.
And she was actively trying to secure housing, but anyone who understands the current rental crisis in Wagga knows how near-impossible that is. The waitlists for public housing are enormous, and she was doing her best in a system that is already overwhelmed.
Her skin colour should not matter at all, but for those making assumptions, she is not Aboriginal and she is not white. It shouldn't need to be said, but clearly, some people are more focused on creating a narrative than showing any decency.
The comments I'm seeing are honestly disgraceful. You are speaking about someone's life, someone you have never met, and a situation you know nothing about. As a family, we are heartbroken and trying to process this unimaginable loss.