16 May 2006

The Hon. Bob Debus MP

Attorney-General for NSW

P.O. Box A290

Sydney South   NSW 1232

Dear Mr Debus,

I refer to your letter of 1 May 2006.

In making an application for an ex gratia payment, I certainly rely on the findings of Acting Judge Davidson and the judgment of the Court of Criminal Appeal.

The only extra material I wish to add relates to the effects on me of my imprisonment. No doubt you would take it for granted that imprisonment is harsh, especially for the nearly nine years for which I seek compensation. Nevertheless, I wish to draw attention to specific features of my imprisonment. You may be aware that last year my book Ten Years was published. I enclose a copy of that, and an index of the major references to the experience and effects of imprisonment from December 1992 to August 2001. Of course I was unable to earn income while I was in prison. I had worked the whole of my adult life. The length of my imprisonment, and injuries while I was there, have affected my chances of gaining employment.

I remain concerned, particularly in light of the matters to which I referred in my second letter to you, that irrelevant and inappropriate factors may be used against me in consideration of this matter without my being given an opportunity to respond. I would welcome any assurance you can give that I will be allowed an opportunity to respond to any matters which have not previously been raised.

Yours sincerely

ROSEANNE BECKETT