A NSW government minister has apologised after two vulnerable children in the state's care were found living with a convicted serial killer.
Regina Arthurell, who was jailed under the name Reginald Kenneth Arthurell, was able to live in the same house as two foster children aged 12 and 14 in out-of-home care Sydney's west.
A whistleblower raised the alarm with Sydney radio station 2GB after she contacted multiple government departments.
Once dubbed the "cowboy killer", Arthurell served almost 24 years behind bars for bludgeoning fiancee Venet Mulhall to death at Coonabarabran in 1995 while on parole.
She had earlier killed her stepfather in the 1970s and a sailor in the 1980s.
She was granted parole in 2020
NSW Minister for Communities and Families Kate Washington told 2GB host Ben Fordham she found out about the children's living situation through the radio station.
"What you've uncovered is shocking and the scenario that these kids were in is not allowed and should've never been allowed," Washington said.
"It is entirely unacceptable for a vulnerable child in the care of the state to be living with a triple murderer.
"It should've never happened and I'm deeply apologetic for what has happened."
Arthurell is no longer living in the same home as the children.
Washington said she has ordered an urgent review and would make any changes necessary.
Later in the interview, she said as the minister responsible for the children "the buck stops with me on this".
"That's why we are going to get to the bottom of it and it's just something that ought to have never happened," she said.
"At least we do now know and we've acted and they're no longer in that house but the scenario should have never happened in the first place."
Washington also said there were "some complexities in the situation" that she could not share publicly to protect the privacy of the children involved.
"But the fact is something has gone terribly wrong here," she said.
"I want to be as open and transparent and accountable as possible.
"I know that's what everyone expects.
"The department was made aware of the situation in late December and some very poor decisions were made at that time.
"I wish I could turn back the clock but I can't."
A whistleblower told Fordham earlier this week she had been in contact with the NSW Police and NSW Department of Corrective Services since February 12 about the issue.
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