A MINISTER in the Australian Government has gone on TV to discuss the disappearance of a Lancaster teenager who is missing feared dead.

Minister for the police, Michelle Roberts, has gone public to address concerns that the police force's investigation into the disappearance of Hayley Dodd has been incompetent and ineffective.

Hayley, 17, who emigrated to Australia with her parents, went missing in Western Australia on July 29, 1999 and is feared dead.

Her mother, Margaret, has spoken out against the police for not conducting a proper search and appearing "disinterested." The family began their own investigations and even employed the services of a famous Aboriginal tracker to look for their daughter.

Now, nearly three years after Hayley's disappearance, Margaret has unearthed new evidence and is continuing to press the police and Government.

"Michelle Roberts went on TV and admitted that the case had been badly handled," said Margaret, calling the Citizen from Australia.

"But still the police are not acting.

They have still not interviewed key witnesses, they still haven't been in touch with the people where Hayley worked and there' s no longer any posters up appealing for information.

Worse still, we have statements from six different people who recall two brothers arguing in a pub close to where Hayley disappeared with one crying and saying the other made him do it.

It could be vital evidence but the police have said it doesn't warrant further investigation.

This is how they have acted throughout the investigation.

It's been a constant battle to get them to take Hayley's disappearance seriously after they initially described her as a runaway.

How could she be a runaway when she called her mum every day?"

Margaret added: "Our family has never been able to grieve and will never be able to do this until our little girl is found.

Unfortunately, we're almost certain she has been murdered but until we find out what happened we will leave no avenue unexplored."