AUSTRALIA: NSW Government Pledges Justice After Landmark Gay Hate Crimes Inquiry

YOUR EX

September 20, 2024

The NSW government has committed to implementing all 19 recommendations from a landmark inquiry into historical gay hate crimes, acknowledging that victims and their families were “fundamentally failed” in the past and vowing to ensure such injustices never occur again.

The inquiry, which spanned 18 months, investigated unsolved deaths in NSW between 1970 and 2010 that may have involved gay hate bias.

Justice John Sackar, who led the inquiry, delivered his findings in December. Among his recommendations were fresh inquests into the deaths of Scott Miller, Paul Rath, Richard Slater, and Carl Stockton.

Penny Sharpe, leader of the government in the Legislative Council, described the inquiry as a “crucial step” in addressing the state’s past failures. She admitted that government institutions in previous decades not only upheld inequality and injustice but, at times, actively participated in them.

“We fundamentally failed the victims of these hate crimes and their families, and we can never let that occur again,” Ms Sharpe stated.

Justice Sackar’s report also recommended reviewing all unsolved homicides during the period examined and ongoing monitoring of DNA databases for potential matches linked to evidence uncovered during the inquiry.

The government revealed that some recommendations had already been implemented, with others currently underway.

Ms Sharpe expressed her gratitude to Justice Sackar and his team for their “exhaustive” work, re-examining what she called a “dark passage in the history of our state.”

The inquiry exposed numerous flaws in police investigations, particularly around the handling of evidence. Of the 34 deaths closely reviewed, LGBT bias was suspected in 21 cases, with four conclusively linked to such bias. Nine deaths were attributed to suicide or misadventure.

NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley acknowledged that the report made for “deeply difficult reading” but marked an important step for victims, survivors, and their advocates.

“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,” she said.

The inquiry revealed shocking levels of violence directed at the LGBT community, with Justice Sackar noting that some officers had been “indifferent, negligent, dismissive or hostile.” However, he stopped short of recommending a formal apology from NSW Police, arguing that it would hold “limited value” if only offered at the inquiry’s recommendation.

In February, Police Commissioner Karen Webb apologised to the families of victims whose deaths had not been thoroughly or fairly investigated. She acknowledged missed opportunities to identify possible offenders.

In its full response, the NSW government apologised unreservedly to the victims, survivors, and their loved ones, acknowledging “shortfalls” in how authorities handled these deaths. The government called it “unacceptable” that these cases were not consistently treated with professionalism, fairness, respect, and compassion.

The government extended a sincere apology to LGBT communities for the “deep hurt and betrayal” they experienced, recognising the lingering distrust of government services.

The inquiry’s establishment was attributed to the “unshakable resolve” of victims’ loved ones, survivors, and community advocates. The government expressed gratitude to those who persisted in their pursuit of truth and justice.

Moving forward, the NSW government pledged to honour the victims and survivors by ensuring that all recommendations are implemented with determination and accountability.