DHS "knew about risk to toddler" with abusive, drug-addicted custodial dad--so why did he have custody? (Victoria, Australia)

We've posted about dad ROBERT MONTEAU before, though most earlier news articles left him unnamed. He's the custodial dad who beat his 2-year-old daughter into a coma back in July, and then committed suicide. The little girl later died as well, though her mother did get to see her at her bedside (for what it's worth). We've heard of earlier evidence of child abuse being ignored. Now we find out that the little girl had been exposed to "family violence" due to the dad "kicking the mother out of their home," and that dad had extensive problems with drugs and alcohol.

So let's ask what should be obvious. Why the f*** did this dad have custody, and who gave it to him?

http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-national/dhs-knew-about-risk-to-toddler-20090921-fwym.html

DHS 'knew about risk to toddler'

September 21, 2009 - 6:14AM .

Victoria's Department of Human Services was aware of violence in the home of a two-year-old toddler more than six months before she died from massive head injuries in August, according to a leaked report.

Hayley Monteau was taken to Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital in July and placed on life support after being assaulted by her father.

The girl died last month and has been cremated.

In July, DHS admitted police and child protection workers had seen Hayley with black eyes and head injuries more than a week before she was fatally injured, the Herald Sun says.

The paper says it has seen a leaked DHS report that shows violence was a concern in February.

"On the 6th February 2009, the Department of Human Services (DHS) received a report... that Hayley had been exposed to family violence due to the father Robert Monteau 'kicking' the mother out of their home in St Arnaud," the Herald Sun quotes the confidential report as saying.

The report also says Mr Monteau, who was charged over her assault and later committed suicide, "presents as slow".

Signed by a DHS supervisor for the Grampians Region, Maureen Little, the report was prepared last month and said the DHS was also warned in February about excess alcohol and drug use in the home.

The report also said Hayley was a child protection client from 1998 until 2002.

The evidence follows last week's revelations that a Victorian man allegedly sexually assaulted his daughter and fathered four of her children over 30 years.