Month: December 2023

Update on Platypuses reintroduced to Royal National Park

Six months after the historic reintroduction of platypuses to Royal National Park south of Sydney, the iconic Australian animals are thriving in their new habitat.

Ten platypuses were released in May, after being locally extinct for 50 years. Each of them carries an acoustic tag which pings listening receivers up and down the rivers of the Royal.

The latest data show nine of the ten animals are adapting well to their environment. The tenth platypus has ventured beyond the team’s tracking capabilities, which she has done before, and the team is confident she is exploring creeks she has previously visited.

Visitors to the Royal National Park are now regularly reporting platypus sightings. This underscores the value of conservation efforts in connecting people with nature and raising awareness about the importance of preserving Australia’s unique wildlife.

This project is a collaboration between the Platypus Conservation Initiative (UNSW Sydney), WWF-Australia, NSW National Parks Wildlife Service and Taronga Conservation Society. The project is guided by a commitment to preserving the Royal National Park’s unique biodiversity and supporting the long-term success of the platypus population.

Plans are underway to conduct comprehensive surveys in the park next year to assess the breeding success and overall health of the platypus population. The goal is to confirm whether the reintroduced platypuses have successfully reared young, which would mark another milestone in this ambitious conservation project.

Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Penny Sharpe said:

“These wonderful native animals are facing multiple threats in the wild, and there is an increasing need to actively manage their conservation for the ongoing survival of their populations.

“After taking part in the reintroduction program in the Royal National Park six months ago, I am thrilled to hear they are thriving in their new habitat and venturing deep into the park.”

Lead Researcher Dr Gilad Bino, UNSW’s Centre for Ecosystem Science said:

“The reintroduction has exceeded our expectations. The platypuses have adapted exceptionally well to the Royal National Park, a testament to the robustness of both the species and the habitat.

“We are closely monitoring the one platypus which has ventured beyond our monitoring capacity, but she will no doubt reconnect soon.”

Platypus researcher Dr Tahneal Hawke, Centre of Ecosystem Science said:

“Recent water quality and macro-invertebrate surveys show the system is in generally good condition, offering suitable resources for the platypuses. As they enter their breeding season, we are optimistic they will breed.”

WWF-Australia conservation ecologist Patrick Giumelli said:

“Our tracking data is providing fascinating insights into how the platypuses are interacting with their new habitat. We’re learning so much from these ten animals that will help inform future reintroductions of the species.

“We need to take these bold actions to reverse the decline of this Australian icon and secure its future.”downloadDownload as PDFprintPrint this page

Residential care a breeding ground for crime, overhaul needed

Queensland’s residential care system for children needs an overhaul to prevent it from being a breeding ground for crime and long-term welfare dependency.

One Nation candidate for Keppel James Ashby said changes were also needed to ensure qualified carers were supported to remain in the system.

“There are about 11,000 children in residential care in Queensland, partly due to the foster care system being on the verge of collapse,” Mr Ashby said.

“For many of these kids, it costs Queensland taxpayers between $500,000 and $1 million to care for them. Some of them are forced to stay in hotels due to a shortage of residential care homes.

“The system is under a lot of strain. Carers are almost powerless to work closely with children to foster an environment of trust with appropriate behavioural boundaries, and in many cases are unable to prevent kids from leaving a home and roaming the streets. Qualified carers are leaving the system and are being replaced with others, some of whom are unqualified and inexperienced or who are in it for the good pay ($120,000 starting salary) rather than good outcomes.

“Well-intentioned child safety requirements also prevent the development of a normal home environment where these kids can learn basic life skills. They have virtually nothing to do but sit around watching TV or playing games.

“Children who’ve been in the system for a while have learned how to game it and weaponise it, threatening carers with accusations of assault or worse in order to get their way or excuse poor behaviour. Discipline goes out the window. And unless they’re eligible for an ‘independent living’ arrangement, once these kids reach 18 they’re effectively on their own, often without prospects.”

Mr Ashby called for suitably qualified residential care house managers to be given greater autonomy in managing the care of kids in their charge.

“These highly qualified and experienced carers are the ones on the ground working daily with these children yet they have virtually no say in the management of kids’ programs and activities,” he said. “It should be these people – who know individual kids best – who should be planning their care.

“Carers entering the system should also be required to successfully complete appropriate training before coming into contact with kids. At the moment, because of a shortage, carers are being placed in charge of kids before their training is complete.

“Sadly, there will always be some parents unsuited to the role of parenting. We must have a sustainable and effective system of state care, but high demand coupled with well-intentioned but impersonal bureaucracy is threatening the system’s viability and delivering less-than-optimal outcomes.

“We all want what’s best for our kids. One Nation will work to introduce reforms to Queensland’s youth justice and residential care systems to better protect community safety and produce positive outcomes for our state’s vulnerable young people.”

Code of Conduct investigation

In accordance with the Council resolution of 12 December 2023 (below), City of Newcastle (CN) sought advice on the proactive release of the outcome letter and investigation report prepared by the external Conduct Reviewer, in accordance with the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act).

As required under the GIPA Act, CN consulted with third parties whose information was captured in the documents prepared by the external Conduct Reviewer.

The outcome letter was prepared by the independent Conduct Reviewer and is a summary of the independent Code of Conduct review and its findings. The outcome letter was made available to Councillors at the Council meeting held on 12 December 2023.

A redacted copy of the outcome letter is available. The redacted sections of the outcome letter are currently the subject of consultation with a third party. Once the consultation is completed, CN will be able to determine whether it can release the information, in accordance with the GIPA Act.

The investigation report is the full report prepared by the external Conduct Reviewer. Consultation on the investigation report continues, in accordance with the GIPA Act. As noted in the Council resolution, the Procedure does not provide for Councillors to receive a copy of the investigation report where the finding is there is no breach of the Code of Conduct.

CN is currently working through its legal obligations in relation to the investigation report, having regard to the Code of Conduct, the Procedure and the GIPA Act. This will take some time as it is important CN complies with its legal obligations. A further update will be provided in due course as to whether the investigation report is able to be proactively released under the GIPA Act, but this is not expected to be till late January 2024 at the earliest.

Statement attributable to David Clarke, Executive Director Corporate Services

In accordance with Council’s resolution of 12 December 2023, City of Newcastle sought advice on the proactive release of the outcome letter and investigation report prepared by the independent, external Conduct Reviewer into alleged Code of Conduct breaches by City of Newcastle’s Chief Executive Officer.

City of Newcastle is governed by strict requirements under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act) when considering the proactive release of documents which contain the information of third parties.

City of Newcastle has undertaken consultation on the outcome letter, which was prepared by the external Conduct Reviewer and is a summary of the independent Code of Conduct review and its findings. The outcome letter was made available to Councillors at the Council meeting held on 12 December 2023″.

A redacted copy of the outcome letter is available on City of Newcastle’s website at [link]. The redacted sections of the outcome letter are currently the subject of consultation with a third party. Once the consultation is completed, CN will be able to determine whether it can release the information, in accordance with the GIPA Act.

The investigation report is the full report prepared by the external Conduct Reviewer. Consultation on the investigation report continues, in accordance with the GIPA Act.

The investigation report is not able to be considered for release until the GIPA Act requirements have been finalised. A further update will be provided in due course.

14 December 2023

An independent investigation has been undertaken into alleged Code of Conduct breaches by City of Newcastle’s (CN) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) following a resolution of Council on 25 July 2023 and a letter from the Minister for Local Government.

In accordance with CN’s Procedure for Administration of the Code of Conduct, the matter was referred to an external Conduct Reviewer, independent of CN, for assessment and investigation.

The investigation found no evidence that the CEO incentivised the author to write the articles, nor did he reveal to the author confidential information, which was contained in the letters to the Newcastle Herald.

There is no evidence that the CEO directly contributed to the letters and the investigation found both allegations were not substantiated.

The Conduct Reviewer has referred allegations of how confidential electoral roll details about Council staff and their friends and family came into the possession of journalists to the appropriate external agencies to determine the next steps.

The procedure does not provide for the Conduct Reviewer to take action or make a referral in relation to the Code of Conduct for Members of the Legislative Assembly.

Now the matter is finalised, CN will advise the Minister for Local Government and relevant external agencies of the outcome of the investigation.

The investigation report remains confidential, and the procedure does not provide for Councillors to receive a copy of the investigation report where the finding is there is no breach of the Code of Conduct.

CN will proactively consider and seek advice to determine whether the outcome letter and investigation report issued by the Conduct Reviewer, in part or full, can be released publicly in accordance with the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009.

The full Procedure for Administration of the Code of Conduct is available on the CN website.

The Resolution to Ordinary Council Meeting 12 December 2023 regarding the outcome of this matter is also available.

Record capital works and a booming visitor economy as City of Newcastle wraps up 2023

Delivering a record $117.8 million capital works program, hosting two of the greatest musicians of all time, beginning the rejuvenation of Stockton Beach and a return to swimming at Newcastle Ocean Baths are just some of the highlights City of Newcastle (CN) is celebrating following another big year of milestones and achievements.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, who this year became one of Newcastle’s longest serving Lord Mayors, reaching nine years in the role praised City of Newcastle staff and gave thanks to the community when reflecting on 2023.

CEO Jeremy Bath and Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes join City of Newcastle staff at the Works Depot Christmas party

“I want to thank the people of Newcastle, who have repeatedly supported our Council to show leadership and take tough decisions to deliver the change our city has needed,” Cr Nelmes said.

The Lord Mayor praised the City’s staff across the entire organisation for continuing to serve the community, including residents, workers, visitors, community groups and businesses.

“2023 has given us all plenty of reasons to be proud of ourselves, proud to be Novocastrians, and proud to work for a local government that is leading the way,” Cr Nelmes said.

Just this week swimmers made their long-awaited return to Newcastle Ocean Baths, with a celebration poolside for the completion of stage one of the multi-million dollar upgrade of the much love community facility.

This year City of Newcastle demonstrated a commitment to sustainability with CN spending $376.5 million this year to provide services and facilities to more than 169,000 residents, while recording a modest surplus of $7.8 million.

CN’s record $117.8 million capital works program included the Lugar Park amenities upgrade in Kotara, drainage upgrades at Smith Street, Merewether, the multipurpose sports and community hub at Myer Park, Adamstown, as well as road pavement stabilisation works at Kinta Drive, Beresfield and new traffic control signals at Chinchen Street, Islington.

As part of the Local Centres Program work is progressing at Orchardtown Road in New Lambton, with a future project for Georgetown now in the planning stage.

CN’s ongoing investment in recreational spaces saw five new local playgrounds officially opened in Fletcher, Waratah, Birmingham Gardens, Beresfield and Mayfield.

In January, Elton John entertained almost 50,000 fans at McDonald Jones Stadium backed up by Paul McCartney’s historic first concert outside an Australian capital city. The shows were secured as part of City of Newcastle’s Major Events Partnership with Venues NSW and injected an estimated $23 million into the local economy.

There was more big entertainment news thanks to Come From Away’s record-breaking season at the Civic Theatre, with 21,500 theatregoers from across the Hunter and beyond attending 23 shows.

In May, Newcastle was hailed as the ‘Top Tourism Town’ by Business NSW at the Local Government NSW Destination & Visitor Economy Conference, in recognition of its strategic initiatives to increase visitation and support tourism development for local operators.

Home grown hero Emily Van Egmond was awarded a Key to the City of Newcastle in August in recognition of the Matildas’ heroic efforts during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

New Annual returned in September with a range of amazing acts and performers. Newcastle’s flagship arts and culture festival has registered around 95,000 visitors and featured more than 1,500 visiting and local artists during its first three years, encouraging council to endorse a new 5-year commitment.

In October, the Newcastle Knights women were honoured with a civic reception at City Hall after beating the Gold Coast Titans in the grand final to claim their second-straight NRLW premiership.

Newcastle also earned the right to host Game Two of the 2024 Women’s State of Origin series at McDonald Jones Stadium on June 6.

Also that month Stockton residents celebrated the arrival of a 75-metre-long dredger spraying a rainbow of sand off the coastline, depositing 100,000 cubic metres to help renourish the beach.

November saw City of Newcastle and the RAAF host the largest single day event in the region’s history with the Newcastle Williamtown Air Show attracting around 100,000 spectators and delivering an estimated economic output of $19.5 million, with hotels reporting a 97% occupancy rate over the weekend.

CN’s City Administration Centre will be closed from midday Friday 22 December 2023, reopening on Tuesday 2 January 2024. For more information about CN’s services, visit newcastle.nsw.gov.au

Cancer survivorship clinic celebrates 10 years of operation

One of the first cancer survivorship clinics in NSW is celebrating 10 years of providing dedicated support to patients and their families following a cancer diagnosis.

Established in 2013, the Sydney Survivorship Centre at Concord Hospital gives patients access to evidence-based exercise interventions from diagnosis to treatment and through to survivorship.

The dedicated team helps patients manage treatment related side effects, improve their physical function and wellbeing and help prevent long term or persisting adverse effects of their cancer and treatment.

Health Minister Ryan Park highlighted the need for such an important service and praised the tireless efforts of the staff who work at the clinic.

“Making sure we look after the most vulnerable members of our community is vitally important and this service provides a multi-disciplinary team to give survivors the best possible chance of a positive outcome after their diagnosis,” Minister Park said.

“The team at the Cancer Survivorship Centre do an incredibly important job in helping patients navigate through such a terrifying point in life.”

There are an estimated 750,000 cancer survivors in Australia with an expected three per cent increase this year.

The aim of survivorship programs is to improve the services and care for cancer survivors in Australia through research, education and an understanding of the issues that affect people who have been treated for cancer.

While “survivorship” means different things to different people, most cancer survivors share similar issues around the fear of the cancer returning or the anxiety of follow up visits.

This free clinic helps patients come to terms with those fears and anxieties in a relaxed environment.

About 130 new patients are seen at the clinic each year with long term follow-up provided for about 40 per cent of those patients.

Staff will see patients every three months for the first three years, then six monthly for years four and five.

Adopt don’t shop for an animal companion this Christmas

NSW residents are being encouraged to adopt from their local council pound or animal shelter rather than shopping if they’re considering getting a pet this Christmas.

The Christmas period is a prime time when many families welcome a new, furry family member into their homes.

But with councils and rehoming organisations reporting an increase in surrendered or abandoned animals recently, there are many loving pets across the state waiting to find their forever home.

In the 12 months to 30 June 2023, there were 21,580 dogs and 14,370 cats in the NSW pound system, including 5680 dogs and 5030 cats which were released to organisations for rehoming.

Adopting a pet provides a safe home to animals in need of a second chance while also reducing the demand on the state’s facilities. This includes 100 approved rehoming organisations and 98 council pounds across NSW.

Current and prospective pet owners are also being reminded about responsible pet ownership and the importance of microchipping, desexing and registering their pet via the NSW Pet Registry.

Sadly, summer is a peak time of year for pets to go missing, whether they’re spooked by New Year’s Eve fireworks or escape into unfamiliar surroundings when taken on the family holiday.

Ensuring your pet’s details are up to date on the NSW Pet Registry can make all the difference in the chance of a happy reunion if your pet goes missing.

Registration via the NSW Pet Registry is free for desexed cats and dogs adopted from pounds, animal shelters and approved rehoming organisations.

To adopt a pet this Christmas, visit your council pound, RSPCA, Animal Welfare League, Cat Protection Society or another approved rehoming organisation in your local area.

See the full list of rehoming organisationslaunch, or contact your local councillaunch for information on council pounds.

Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said:

“Dogs and cats are beloved members of the family in homes across NSW.

“They can provide love and companionship and adopting a pet which might’ve had a rough start to life can be an incredibly rewarding experience.

“If you’re welcoming a new pet into your family this Christmas, please think about visiting a council pound, animal shelter or rehoming organisation to see if there’s a dog or cat that would suit your household.

“More than 3480 dogs and 3690 cats were adopted from NSW pounds in the year to 30 June 2023, showing just how generous the people of NSW can be.

“While pets can bring a lot of joy, it’s also important to remember they are a big responsibility.

“So before adopting a pet ensure you’re in the best position to give them the life and home they deserve.”

New provider identified for Feros care site

The NSW Government has identified St Andrew’s Village Ballina Ltd as the new preferred operator for the site of the Feros aged care village at Byron Bay.

Submissions have been assessed and discussions are now underway with the preferred proponent St Andrew’s Village Ballina Ltd to provide a long-term lease on the site.

St Andrew’s is a community-based, not-for-profit organisation with significant industry experience and financial capabilities.

It submitted a comprehensive proposal which reflected a good understanding of aged accommodation needs in the Byron area, and has committed to:

  • Deploy experienced staff to commence operations at the Byron site quickly and seamlessly.
  • Maintain the existing 40 residential aged care beds at the site.
  • Invest an initial amount of almost $3 million to refurbish facilities at the site, to provide comfortable and functional accommodation and ensure compliance with aged accommodation standards.

In February 2023, Feros Care announced its intention to close the Feros Care Village at Byron Bay.

In response to feedback from residents and the community, Crown Lands conducted an Expression of Interest (EOI)  process to invite potential operators of the Feros Village facility to be considered for a long-term lease on the Crown land reserve.

The (EOI) attracted a number of submissions from potential operators to provide aged care accommodation at the Marvell Street site.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“The identification of a strong and committed aged accommodation provider with local roots in the Byron region is fantastic news for the residents of the Feros village and for the local community.

“Our first priority has always been the welfare and well-being of the residents. Discussions are underway to lock in a long-term lease with St Andrew’s to ensure we have a seamless transition to a new aged accommodation and care operator by the end of January.”

Federal Member for Richmond Justine Elliot said:

“This is a massive community victory and together we’ve secured the long-term future for this important aged-care facility for our area. Thanks to everyone for all your great efforts.

“After the devastating news that Feros Care would close Byron Bay’s Feros Village, State and Federal Labor Governments worked to find a new provider to keep the site open for residents.

“After months of work, we’ve secured St. Andrew’s, an established provider of aged care services, to run the current Feros Village site and continue to provide high-quality care. All residents will be able to remain on the site. I’m proud to be your strong voice in the Albanese Government delivering a long-term home for the residents of Feros.

“A big thank you also to the Byron Shire Council and our community for your work in helping us make this happen.”

Chief Executive Officer of St Andrew’s Todd Yourell said:

“St Andrew’s is delighted to be awarded this opportunity to take on the management of this facility.

“With the current residents being our primary focus, we look forward to meeting with them as soon as possible to consult and listen to them regarding the future of their home.”

Testing begins for Parramatta’s new light rail

A tram has travelled through Western Sydney for the first time in 80 years, with on-track testing for Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 officially kicking off on 18 December as the project powers forward, reaching a number of major milestones.

The NSW Government has ensured the project is on track to service tens of thousands of commuters by mid-2024, providing a vital additional transport link between key precincts in Western Sydney.

The community will notice a light rail vehicle moving slowly along the track from Dundas towards Carlingford this week, before testing ramps up in the new year through Parramatta CBD.

Major construction is now complete on all 16 light rail stops along the 12-kilometre alignment from Westmead to Carlingford, while the 7 substations that will power the network have been installed and energised.

The new state-of-the-art stabling and maintenance facility in Camellia is almost complete, housing the vehicles for upkeep and cleaning, and creating more than 150 jobs in Western Sydney.

All 13 new light rail vehicles are currently on site in the stabling yard and ready for testing, after the final 2 were delivered earlier this month.

A recruitment campaign is currently underway for more than 80 operational staff including drivers, network controllers and customer service personnel.

Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 will connect Westmead to Carlingford via the Parramatta CBD and Camellia.

For more information, visit the Parramatta Light Rail websitelaunch.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said:

“Parramatta Light Rail is progressing, with major milestones giving locals and visitors an exciting glimpse of what is to come: more safe, reliable and connected public transport in Western Sydney.

“The last time trams moved through Parramatta was in 1943. Now we’re finally seeing tram testing on this transformational project for Western Sydney.

“Stage 1 will mean key health precincts like Westmead and Cumberland are more accessible, students at Western Sydney Uni and local schools have more travel options, and businesses along Church St will enjoy increased foot traffic of around 16,000 people daily.

“I want to thank everyone who helped us get to this point, especially the light rail operators who worked overnight to test Parramatta’s new tram.

“200 people have been working day and night to build the stabling and maintenance facility, fit out and test the light rail stops, install overhead wiring, and deliver this city-shaping light rail network for our west.”

Member for Parramatta Donna Davis said:

“This is a momentous day for Parramatta as the first light rail vehicle begins testing on the tracks.

“Our government is delivering a vital public transport link that is essential to the support Parramatta’s growth, and work is underway to extend Parramatta light rail even further.

“Trams are testing along the old Carlingford rail line corridor first, before testing in Parramatta’s CBD in the first half of next year.

“I urge pedestrians, cyclists and motorists to be alert as light rail vehicles commence testing along the line.” 

Doors open at upgraded Mascot Station

The new-look Mascot Station has officially opened to the public following a multi-million-dollar upgrade to improve customer access, reduce congestion and future-proof facilities.

Transport for NSW worked with Bayside Council, businesses, local residents and the public to design and build a new station entry that improves access to the station on both sides of Bourke Street.

Improvements at Sydney’s 35th busiest station include the new station entrance, four new escalators, a new lift, bathrooms, additional ticket gates and hearing loops.

The new Bourke Street entry is complimented by a surrounding plaza that includes seating and landscaping.

The new entrance on Bourke Street west is a win for train passengers and road users, as the underpass will reduce the number of commuters using nearby pedestrian crossings.

These vital improvements mean Mascot Station will be able to accommodate more passengers in the future, making commuting from Mascot to the city, a fast, comfortable and efficient experience. 

Minor works will continue at Mascot Station in early 2024.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said:

“More than 1000 people have been hard at work, significantly improving access to Mascot Station from both sides of Bourke Street.

“The new entry, lifts and escalators will make everyone’s walk in and out of the station a little easier, and the improved plaza will be a great little public space in the heart of Mascot.  

Member for Heffron, Ron Hoenig MP said:

“This is a necessary upgrade that will create a much-needed second entrance to Mascot Station.

“Until now, everyone had to cram into the same set of escalators and through the same entry.

“This upgrade will do two things – allow pedestrians to access the station without having to cross Bourke Street, and free up the congestion of traffic on Bourke Street which was obstructed by the volume of pedestrians crossing the road to use the station.

“Mascot Station is on the network’s busy Airport Line and services one of the fastest-growing residential areas of Sydney.

“Now we’ll have two, safe and accessible entrances and exits, making it easier for everyone to catch the train.”

NSW Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ hate crimes concludes final report

The NSW Government has today released the final report by the Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ hate crimes, concluding the landmark review.

The final report contains seven recommendations relating to specific cases, as well as 12 recommendations relating to investigative and record management practices and procedures, including: 

  • Establishment of a review or audit by NSW Police of all unsolved homicides for the period 1970 to 2010, including review of exhibits and those that should be submitted for forensic testing in light of possible technological advances. 
  • Several recommendations relating to the enhancement of the Unsolved Homicide Team (UHT) including a review of practices, procedures and resourcing of the UHT, and provision of training.
  • Implementation of mandatory and ongoing training for NSW Police officers concerning the LGBTIQ community, including in relation to LGBTIQ bias crime, conscious and unconscious bias in investigations, and the engagement of appropriately qualified experts to ensure international best practice in NSW.

Led by the Honourable Justice John Sackar (the Commissioner) and first 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. 

In particular, the Inquiry looked into the 88 deaths or suspected deaths of men potentially motivated by gay hate bias that were investigated by Strike Force Parrabell.

In a series of public hearings, the deaths of 32 people were examined in detail.

The Inquiry also looked at social, legal and cultural factors affecting the LGBTIQ community, as well as the nature of the relationship between the LGBTIQ community and the NSW Police Force over the 40-year period.

In the course of this work the Inquiry examined more than 150,000 documents, issued more than 400 summonses, made public appeals for information, and held public and private hearings.

The final report comprising almost 3,500 pages is reflective of the extensive work undertaken by the dedicated team of barristers, solicitors and investigators.

The NSW Government will thoroughly consider the contents of the Commission’s report and will respond in due course.

Read the Inquiry Report

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“I thank all of those who came forward with information or otherwise assisted the Inquiry – for your contributions and staunch advocacy for partners, family members, friends and community.”

“It takes courage to relive the traumatic experiences you have shared as partners, family and friends who have lost loved ones, and as a community that has suffered unimaginable injustice.”

“Thank you also to Commissioner Sackar and the entire Inquiry team for your tireless work in pursuing justice for the victims of these crimes.”

“The Government will now take the time required to thoroughly consider the Commission’s report.”

NSW Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“The comprehensive work undertaken by the Inquiry has shone a light on some of the darkest events in our states history.”

“I know many members of our community have been deeply impacted by the events examined by the Inquiry and the reopening of wounds that has been a difficult but necessary part of this process.”

“We hope that in a small way this process will have provided some level of closure and healing.”

“Our work here is far from over and our focus now shifts to ensuring we deliver a meaningful and decisive response., We owe nothing less to victims, their families and friends.”

“I would also like to thank Judge Sakar and his team for their work.

Support services

The Inquiry engaged ACON Pride Counselling to offer free and confidential counselling to LGBTIQ people participating in the Inquiry.  Find out morelaunch.

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
  • TransHublaunch (external link)
  • Pivot Pointlaunch (external link) – (for information & self-assessment of alcohol and drug use).