Latest Update For Roseanne Fulton

There has been incredible progress on freeing Roseanne. Locked up in prison indefinitely because of her disability, without being guilty of a crime – your signatures have helped convince the NT Government to start moving to free her.  THANK YOU!!

For those of you who have missed my previous posts Roseann’s cycle of abuse and neglect growing up was truly shocking. At 5 years old she was being traded for sex. After years of abuse, as a young woman she committed some minor crimes, was deemed “unfit to plead” because of her disability – and like many other Aboriginal men and women ended up under indefinite prison-based supervision.

Roseanne has now been in prison for 18 months. She hasn’t been convicted of a crime.

There is now got support from all sides of politics. The Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion, the PM’s adviser Warren Mundine, Senator Nova Peris, Senator Siewert and Boyce and others we met have all shown support for the release of Roseanne. And we’re closer than ever to a national audit and policy to end this shameful practice.

Her guardian, Ian, is hopeful the Federal Government can show some leadership on this. So am I but must admit I feel some trepidation and that will most likely not settle until Roseanne has been released into the care of The Northern Territory’s facility for people who suffer from Foetal alcohol syndrome.  It’s one thing to say they agree – now it’s time for them to respond with real action to end the use of indefinite prison sentences as ‘care’ for intellectually disabled people found ‘unfit to plead’.

The response by Senator Scullion has apparently been very encouraging; he has a deep knowledge of issues and the effects of foetal alcohol harm. He should be thanked for his concern and encouraged as Minister of Aboriginal Affairs to push for the reforms needed to end this unjust imprisonment.

Please help Ian and Roseanne thank the Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion for meeting with them and their supporters and urge him to immediately begin an inquiry and develop a policy. Here’s where you can send him a quick email saying just that:Nigel.Scullion@ia.pm.gov.au

There are currently at this time 30 individuals in Western Australia and The Northern Territory who are in the same situation as Roseanne.  At Ian’s request the petition is going to be kept active as a means of encouraging our Prime Minister to heed the findings of the Human Rights Commission Hearing and develop a national strategy to deal with the inequity of this situation.

Some of you may or may not have heard of Marlon Noble’s case. He spent 10 years in prison without conviction after being found “unfit to plead” just like Roseanne. If you want to watch his incredible story, recorded by the Human Rights Commission, you can click here.

So please if you see the injustice of this situation click on the petition link and add your voice to those like Roseanne who have few to speak for them.