The NSW Government is today releasing its formal response to the NSW Special Commission of Inquiry into Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ) Hate Crimes.
After carefully considering the almost 3,500-page report prepared by the Inquiry, the NSW Government is supporting all 19 of the Inquiry's public recommendations.
Led by the Commissioner, the Honourable Justice John Sackar, and launched in April 2022, the Inquiry looked into the unsolved deaths of LGBTIQ+ people that may have been hate crimes between 1970 and 2010 that had been the subject of previous investigation by the NSW Police Force.
The Commission's report identified shortfalls in how NSW Government authorities responded to these deaths and found that investigations were not consistently handled with professionalism, fairness, respect, and compassion.
The Inquiry also heard of the deep hurt that continues to be felt by LGBTIQ+ communities, and the legacy of distrust of government services that continues to the present day.
The NSW Government commends the efforts of the Inquiry and those who provided assistance to this important work.
The NSW Government also extends its deepest gratitude to all LGBTIQ+ community and ally organisations who have advocated tirelessly for change over several decades.
We will honour the victims and victim-survivors whose pain has been captured by the Inquiry, through the implementation of all 19 recommendations.
Implementation of some recommendations has already been completed. Action on other recommendations is underway or will be implemented following further planning or technological advances.
The NSW Police Force has established Taskforce Atlas to oversee implementation of the NSWPF-related recommendations.
A working group has been established to develop a process for conducting the recommended systematic review or audit of all unsolved homicides from 1970 to 2010.
It will also inform work in relation to identifying exhibits to be submitted or resubmitted for forensic testing in light of possible technological advancements.
In accordance with the advice from Commissioner Sackar, a confidential volume of the Inquiry's Report has also been provided to the NSW Police Force and the NSW Crime Commission to inform any current or future criminal investigations or prosecutions.
The response follows the important and landmark apology by the NSW Government for the historic criminalisation of homosexuality in NSW, which was delivered in Parliament in June 2024.
The Minns Labor Government has also recently announced a range of initiatives aimed at promoting equality and inclusion for LGBTIQ+ communities.
This includes a new advisory council designed to improve the understanding of issues affecting LGBTIQ+ people across the state and the introduction of new laws to ban LGBTQ+ conversion practices.
The Government response can be accessed here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/noindex/2024-09/Government%20Response%20-%20SCOI%20into%20LGBTIQ%20Hate%20Crimes.docx.pdf
Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council Penny Sharpe said:
"I want to again thank Commissioner Sackar, the Special Commission team, and everyone who contributed to this exhaustive investigation to re-examine a dark passage in the history of our state.
"This Inquiry, the events that have led to it and those that will follow, will be remembered as a crucial step in coming to terms with the role that the NSW Government played in these many tragedies.
"In previous decades, NSW Government institutions set a standard that not only stood by inequality and injustice, but fostered, and at times participated in it.
"We fundamentally failed the victims of these hate crimes and their families, and we can never let that occur again.
"The dedicated and comprehensive work of the whole Inquiry team stands on the shoulders of the efforts of many members of LGBTIQ+ communities, as well as the families and friends of victims - for that we say thank you."
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said:
"The Inquiry report made for deeply difficult reading; a difficulty dwarfed by the lived experiences shared by so many.
"Today is an important milestone in a long journey for victims, victim-survivors, advocates and allies who have suffered from these crimes.
"We can't change what has happened in the past, but we can and will do everything in our power to learn, evolve and prevent history from repeating itself.
"The Government response is another step in the pursuit of justice and the Government and NSW Police Force are actively working to implement report's recommendations in partnership with the LGBTIQ+ community."
Support services
The Inquiry engaged ACON Pride Counselling to offer free and confidential counselling to LGBTIQ+ people participating in the Inquiry. Find out more here: https://www.acon.org.au/support-services/pride-counselling/
The following services are available for immediate support:
- Emergency assistance: (triple zero) 000
- Lifeline: 13 11 14
- Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
- NSW Mental Health Access Line: 1800 011 511
- QLife (3pm to midnight): 1800 184 527
- Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
- Rainbow Sexual, Domestic & Family Violence Service Help Line: 1800 385 578
- Alcohol and Drug Information Service: 1800 250 015
- TransHub
- Pivot Point
