<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The NSW government paid $700 for accommodation to remove a convicted serial killer from a home in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/sydney" rel="" target="" title="Sydney"><span>Sydney</span></a><span>'s west where she had been living with two foster children.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Regina Arthurell, who was jailed under the name Reginald Kenneth Arthurell, had been living under the same roof as the 12-year-old and 14-year-old until the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/new-south-wales" rel="" target="" title="NSW"><span>NSW</span></a><span> Minister for Communities and Families discovered the living arrangement through a Sydney radio station.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A whistleblower </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/nsw-government-minister-orders-urgent-review-after-foster-children-found-living-with-convicted-serial-killer/95343234-a790-46fd-a345-e79647e93384" rel="" target="_blank" title="raised the alarm with 2GB"><span>raised the alarm with 2GB</span></a><span> after she contacted multiple government departments.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-march-18-donald-trump-ramps-up-criticism-of-uk-pm-keir-starmer-top-counterterrorism-official-joe-kent-resigns/3dad59e0-f145-4995-96c3-74a6114a9e55" target="_blank"><strong><span>Global travel industry losing $844 million a day over Iran war</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/kyle-sandilands-jackie-o-kiis-fm-radio-show-contract-terminated-by-arn/11c5a875-b61b-4577-9d7d-3550169c564e" target="_blank"><strong><span>'I don't accept it': Kyle reveals contract terminated by ARN</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) paid for three nights of accommodation to remove Arthurell from the home.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>The Daily Telegraph</span></em><span> reported Arthurell spent the three nights at the Rydges Hotel in Armidale in the NSW northern tablelands.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/regina-arthurell-nsw-government-paid-700-to-get-convicted-serial-killer-out-of-home-with-foster-children/776be7fb-4f90-4715-b2be-1bbaba7f3629" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She had earlier killed her stepfather in the 1970s and a sailor in the 1980s.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She was granted parole in 2020.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Last week, NSW Communities and Families Minister Kate Washington said the living situation uncovered by the radio station was "shocking".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It is entirely unacceptable for a vulnerable child in the care of the state to be living with a triple murderer," Washington said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It should've never happened and I'm deeply apologetic for what has happened."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>WEATHER:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/queensland-weather-news-tropical-low-could-develop-into-cyclone-off-the-far-north-coast-by-the-end-of-the-week/22d36efb-98ef-470e-99de-fe9a23cda346" target="_blank"><strong><span>Cyclone barrelling towards Queensland coastline</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>PETROL PRICES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-crisis-australia-how-rideshare-fares-may-increase-driver-wear-cost-of-petrol-explained/827f5cf7-6f6c-43eb-9672-e79a77459ec7" target="_blank"><strong><span>Rideshare giant increases fuel surcharge as petrol prices bite</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Washington faced questions over the situation in NSW Parliament yesterday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She did not directly respond to questions about how much the NSW taxpayer paid for Arthurell's accommodation but a NSW government spokesperson later confirmed the $700 figure.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Since the story aired on 2GB, Washington said she had personally apologised to the family.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I have been clear that there have been multiple failures in this case," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We want to be as open and transparent as possible to ensure it does not happen again.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"When I became aware of this incident last week, I immediately took action and the person was removed from the house."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The department has launched a review into the incident.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The secretary of DCJ has confirmed that two staff members have been suspended based on initial investigations underway as part of that review," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Because of the significant sensitivities involved, there are young children in care in this case, we do not intend on conducting a review through the media, but we acknowledge that serious issues have been identified and we are acting to address them."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> 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