Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) acknowledges:

(i) Ms Rose Anne Fulton has been held in custody in Kalgoorlie for 18 months without a trial or conviction, and

(ii) that it is unacceptable for people to be held in custody indefinitely without conviction;

(b) notes:

(i) the failure of the Northern Territory Government to provide suitable accommodation and treatment options in order for the Western Australian Government to safely and securely transfer Ms Fulton back to her home in Alice Springs, and

(ii) that Ms Fulton is directly under the guardianship of the Northern Territory Minister for Health, Ms Lambley, as she remains an adult guardian client of the Northern Territory Minister and Mr Ian McKinlay; and

(c) calls on the Federal Government to take leadership and negotiate a transfer of Ms Fulton to Alice Springs to enable her to be close to her family.

Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Acting Deputy President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I understand the frustration people feel in relation to this case. It is a very complex matter. The full details simply cannot be captured by a motion like this. It is a matter for Western Australia and the Northern Territory to try to find a resolution.

In saying that, I have recently written to the attorneys-general of Western Australia and the Northern Territory, as well as the Minister for Health, on this matter. My office has spoken to Ms Fulton's community guardian, Mr McKinlay. I would be happy to keep Senator Siewert abreast of updates in relation to Rosie Fulton's circumstances.

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I appreciate the words from Minister Scullion. The fact is that Ms Fulton has been in detention for 18 months without trial or conviction. Additionally, there a number of people around Australia with a disability who are in prison without conviction or trial. It is time that Australia dealt with these issues that are allowing people to be held in this matter—in particular, Ms Fulton. It is really inappropriate for her to be held in Kalgoorlie in detention when her family is in Alice Springs. It is time that Australian governments resolved this issue. That is why this motion is calling on the federal government to show some leadership to ensure that Ms Fulton is not held in this manner in Kalgoorlie for a moment longer. It is time that she was out of these circumstances. I urge the Senate to support this motion to encourage and urge the government to show some leadership.

Question agreed to.