Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has committed to publicly releasing a report by an independent consultant about the NSW Police Force’s participation in its annual parade ahead of a vote on the topic at the upcoming annual general meeting.
This commitment, made in an email to members just after 5pm on Friday, follows ongoing community consultation efforts initiated by Mardi Gras to address the contentious issue of police marching in the Mardi Gras parade.
“The results of this consultation will be compiled into a report by an independent consultant who understands our organisation but has no vested interest in the outcome,” Mardi Gras said.
The date of the next annual general meeting has not been announced. Last year’s was held in December.
The consultant’s report will be made publicly available on the Mardi Gras website and presented to members before the annual general meeting, where they will vote on the future of police participation in the parade.
Mardi Gras said that the purpose of the consultation is to collect and analyse community feedback on police participation in the parade and highlighted the need for a thorough process, emphasising that the topic has been a recurring matter of discussion within the community.
“Our aim is to ensure that all voices within our community are heard, and that members have the necessary information to make informed decisions on this issue,” Mardi Gras said.
Back in June, the organisation sought input from its members on how best to conduct the consultation process. The current process was launched in response to the feedback received from that survey.
“The board will not direct how members should vote; our role is to ensure that the decision is based on comprehensive and unbiased data,” Mardi Gras said.
The first consultation session for members is scheduled for the end of August, with additional sessions planned throughout September, including two online meetings.
Mardi Gras said the consultation focuses solely on police participation in the parade, not the operational presence of police at Mardi Gras events, which is mandated by NSW law.
In response to why consultation hadn’t started earlier, Mardi Gras said the complexity of the topic required careful planning to ensure the process was designed for maximum impact while minimising potential harm to those taking part in the process.
“The board has worked diligently with community and staff leaders to ensure that the consultation reflects the nuanced perspectives and concerns within our community,” it said.
This consultation comes after a challenging year for the relationship between Mardi Gras and the NSW Police Force. In May, it was revealed that Mardi Gras had officially terminated its police accord following the 2023 annual general meeting, where members voted to cancel the controversial agreement.
The accord was first signed between NSW Police and Mardi Gras in 2014 following a violent arrest the year prior. The accord allowed police, among other activities, to conduct “a visual inspection of those intending to take part in the Mardi Gras parade so as to ensure that public decency is not offended”.
The parade’s inclusion of police has also been a point of contention since the alleged murders of Sydney couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, allegedly at the hands of a serving NSW police officer who has since been fired.
The deaths prompted a ban on police marching, which was reversed. Ultimately police marched but not in uniform. Some did, however, wear clothing with police insignia.
Editor’s note: Journalists Eliot Hastie and Ben Grubb pay a $50 annual Mardi Gras membership for discount purposes only.
Gay Sydney News reporter
Gay Sydney News editor