The NSW Police Force has established a special taskforce to consider the recommendations of the LGBTQ hate crime inquiry, but says it is unable to provide a timeline for the implementation of its outcomes.
The findings of the NSW special inquiry into LGBTQ hate crimes were released just prior to Christmas in 2023 after 18 months of hearings and investigation.
The commission, which investigated the handling of dozens of deaths between 1970 and 2021, made 19 recommendations, 15 of which were directed at police.
The NSW Police Force has now confirmed to GSN that it has set-up a special taskforce to consider the recommendations.
“The NSW Police Force has commenced Taskforce ATLAS, led by Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell APM, that is conducting a thorough and considered evaluation of each recommendation,” NSW Police said in a statement.
“While some recommendations align closely with initiatives already under way, the recommendations will be thoroughly assessed as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the service and accountability of the NSW Police Force.”
However, when asked by GSN for a timeline, the police force said there was none, as “the taskforce is conducting a considered evaluation of each recommendation, so it will take the appropriate amount of time to do so thoroughly.”
In February, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Police Minister Yasmin Catley was co-ordinating a formal response to the inquiry and that the police taskforce would provide the government with a progress report by the end of March.
“The government is thoroughly considering the contents of the report and is committed to a meaningful response. The government will respond in due course,” she told the Herald.
When Catley’s office was approached by GSN, it directed us to the police force for a progress update, but the police were unable to provide one.
The commission, led by NSW Supreme Court Justice John Sackar, examined 32 suspected homicides in detail and found reason to suspect LGBTQ bias was a factor in 25 of them.
Seven of the recommendations were directed to specific cases, including that the police apply for a fresh inquest in four cases.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb previously offered an apology in February in which she acknowledged police had failed the community by not investigating some of the deaths highlighted by the inquiry.
However, that was not the only failing found by Justice Sackar in his scathing report that also criticised the police force’s approach to the inquiry.
Sackar accused the police of taking an “adversarial or unnecessarily defensive” stance and that he had “faced significant and unexpected challenges” when dealing with them as part of the inquiry.
Eliot Hastie is a senior news producer at Channel Ten, reporting on a range of general stories, specialising in foreign affairs and LGBTQ+ stories. He’s also a reporter for Gay Sydney News, where he covers LGBTQIA+ culture, politics and nightlife. He previously helped to build and launch ausbiz, Australia's only live streaming finance news channel, where he was also an executive producer and host. He has previously worked as a finance and business journalist for publications including Fintech Business, Real Estate Business and other Momentum Media titles. Eliot holds a journalism degree from the University of Westminster and brings experience in both broadcast and digital reporting. Contact Eliot: eliot.hastie@gaysydneynews.com.au
