Cleo Smith: Mark McGowan to make important announcement on missing Carnarvon girl

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan will make an important announcement about missing four-year-old Cleo Smith.

The premier announced on Thursday he would address the media at 12.30pm local time.

Mr McGowan has previously thanked volunteers and emergency services crews for their tireless efforts in trying to find Cleo earlier this week.

The four-year-old Carnarvon local has been missing for six days after she disappeared from a tent she shared with her mum, stepdad and baby sister in the dead of night on Saturday. 

She’d only arrived at the campsite with her family about 6.30pm on Friday night for a weekend getaway. 

Cleo’s mother, Ellie Smith, has been visiting the Blowholes campsite since she was a little girl and Cleo was familiar with the area. 

Mr McGowan previously said he, like everyone, was hoping for a happy outcome and that little Cleo would be reunited with her family sooner rather than later. 

‘To every officer and volunteer involved in search can I say thank you for your efforts on behalf of the Smith family,’ he said. 

The four-year-old Carnarvon local has been missing for six days after she disappeared from a tent she shared with her mum, stepdad and baby sister in the dead of night on Saturday 

‘To Cleo’s family and on behalf of West Australians, we are thinking of you at this difficult time.’ 

But hopes are fast fading that Cleo will be found near the campsite as it becomes increasingly likely she was abducted. 

There are concerns she ‘could be anywhere’ and could have travelled eight hours before police even arrived at the scene to assist with the search on Saturday morning. 

Search crews have vowed to continue scouring the campsite until they’re absolutely certain she’s no longer there.

‘Whilst time is not on our side… there have been instances in the past where even small children lost in remote areas still being found safe and well,’ acting Deputy Police Commissioner Darryl Gaunt said.

‘There’s been some rain that gives us hope that there’s water on the ground, those type of things which, you know, we take all of these things on as a positive, and we keep searching with every bit of energy that we have.’ 

Mr McGowan will be joined by Police Minister Paul Papalia and Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch when he addresses the media on Thursday.

Police say they do not yet have any suspects in relation to the little girl’s disappearance.  

Little Cleo Smith’s mother is holding out hope that the four-year-old will ‘come home’ to her

Ms Smith made a harrowing statement about 6.20am on Thursday morning – exactly six days after she discovered her eldest daughter was missing.

‘I miss you. I love you. Please come home to me,’ the mother-of-two said.

Early on Thursday morning, she spoke publicly to share the missing child poster that was created by strangers and distributed widely across the nation.

The poster illustrates the red and grey sleeping bag that disappeared with Cleo along with a number to call police. 

She also shared a fresh picture of Cleo enjoying a Cornetto ice-cream in a leopard print jumpsuit. Her pink scooter was visible in the background.

‘My sweet girl, come home to me,’ Ms Smith captioned the photo. 

Cleo’s family have told detectives they will remain at the campsite, hopeful the little girl will wander back in.

Ellie Smith made a harrowing statement about 6am on Thursday morning – exactly six days after she discovered her eldest daughter was missing