The NSW state government has offered an unreserved apology to victims and families affected by historical gay hate crimes, saying they were "fundamentally failed". It comes after a landmark inquiry examining unsolved deaths between 1970 and 2010, with the government accepting all 19 recommendations.
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00:00After a world-first inquiry laid bare past failings, another apology.
00:06The mistakes of the past will not define our future.
00:10The inquiry investigated dozens of unsolved deaths between 1970 and 2010 suspected of
00:16being gay hate crimes.
00:18It heard evidence of homophobia, transphobia and inadequate investigations.
00:22We cannot shy away from the fact that there are perpetrators who still live amongst us
00:28who have murdered people in this state.
00:31In its formal response, the government also apologised and supported all 19 recommendations.
00:37We fundamentally failed the victims of these hate crimes and their families and we can
00:41never let that occur again.
00:43My commitment as the Police Minister is to make sure that the NSW Police do better.
00:51We will hold the government accountable for the commitment that's been made today.
00:56The recommendations include fresh inquests into the deaths of Scott Miller, Paul Rath,
01:00Richard Slater and Carl Stockton.
01:03A review of all unsolved homicide cases from the four decades was also suggested.
01:08As part of the review, more than 200 cases have been prioritised by a taskforce of 25
01:13officers set up in February.
01:16So far, two cases have been singled out for re-investigation, but it's unclear whether
01:20those cases are suspected gay hate crimes.
01:24Despite the passage of time, potential advances in technology mean the Commissioner is still
01:28optimistic.
01:30We don't know yet what is around the corner that could assist us and what is important
01:34is that we maintain our exhibits and we review those exhibits frequently.
01:40For now, the decades-long wait by some families still isn't over.