'I don't think it's appropriate': Minns explains snub of Kathleen Folbigg despite her requests to meet with Premier
Ms Folbigg was released from prison in 2023 when she was acquitted, after spending 20 years locked away for the deaths of her four children.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Ms Folbigg has been unable to secure a meeting with Attorney-General Michael Daley, while the Premier's office has not responded to her several attempts to contact the state government.
The Premier was grilled over why he had not responded to the 58-year-old during a press conference on Monday.
"Look, I don't think it's appropriate that I meet her or her lawyers. They're in the process of demanding money from the New South Wales government. That's being independently assessed by the Attorney General. And I don't think it is appropriate that I have meetings before he makes a decision. I respect his call in relation to her commutation from several months ago, but he's got another decision to make," he said.
"There's a lot of difficult calls for me to make as Premier. This isn't one of them. I think that given that there's a process that's been undertaken, we should let that take place before I insert myself in the middle of those negotiations."
Mr Minns said Ms Folbigg was entitled to launch a legal action on her own, but given she was asking for an ex-gratia payment from the state government, it's a more "complex issue" and one that's "difficult" for the Attorney-General.
"So, like every citizen in the state, she's entitled to take her matter to the courts and sue the NSW government, but this is a complex issue given she won't do that.
"She's asked for an ex-gratia payment. Examples of that taking place outside of the negotiated civil court action (are rare) and as a result it's a difficult one for the Attorney-General to navigate.
"It's unusual circumstances. He's got to make a decision about it, and I'm not going to insert myself in his deliberations, just as I didn't when he made the decision to commute those centres."
The NSW government has also not given a timeline on the decision regarding compensation for Ms Folbigg.
'Despite repeated requests, I've received no substantive information – there is a pattern of avoidance that is becoming increasingly indefensible,' Ms Folbigg's lawyer Rhanee Rego told the masthead.
'Kathleen's case is one of the most significant wrongful convictions in recent Australian history. The fact that no one in government is willing to meet with her speaks volumes.
'She hasn't even been given the courtesy of knowing when this chapter of this life can be closed.'
Ms Folbigg told the Daily Telegraph her life was "on hold" as she awaited the outcome of her compensation bid.
"I'm not asking to be treated differently than anyone else who has been put through what I have,' she said.
'I just need this to be resolved so I can begin to rebuild and move forward.'
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