Police Minister ‘hopeful’ of Mardi Gras resolution

Police Minister Yasmin Catley has said she is “hopeful” a resolution between police and the Mardi Gras board will be reached.

Police Minister Yasmin Catley has said she is “hopeful” a resolution between police and the Mardi Gras board will be reached.

Minister Catley and NSW Police Comissioner Karen Webb met with the board on Tuesday to discuss whether officers should march in the pride parade this weekend.

NSW Premier Chris Minns and Police Minister Yasmin Catley. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

“We met with the Mardi Gras board yesterday and I want to say there was very goodwill at that table and we had very respectful conversations and it was positive,” Ms Catley said to Nat Barr on Sunrise.

“We’re going to continue those conversations today. But I will say the board have asked that those conversations remain confidential and I will honour that.

“But we will continue to talk today and as soon as we find out we will hopefully both together, the board and the police, be able to let you know where we land on that.”

On Tuesday, Premier Chris Minns also said he was hopeful the talks would result in police being able to participate in Saturday’s march.

“I think it’s important to show progress in relation to police relations with the gay community in Sydney,” he said.

“There’s a lot of gay and lesbian officers who are proud of their profession and proud of their community and want to march… many of them have been marching for two decades.”

Liberal Upper House MP Jacqui Munro has called on the Premier to pull funding for the Mardi Grad parade should police not be allowed to march.

Mr Minns rejected that call saying it would only serve to push police relations with the gay community backwards and would result in the parade not being able to go ahead.

The Premier continued to defend Commissioner Webb as questions over her leadership continue, saying she continued to have his full support.

“In relation to my confidence in the police commissioner the most important objective is about criminal investigations and ensuring that the organisation of police force is battling crime and I do have confidence in relation to that,” he said.

It comes after NSW Police revealed they have been officially uninvited from marching at the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade, with commissioner Karen Webb saying she’s “disappointed and dismayed.”

Commissioner Webb told The Daily Telegraph she was notified after the Mardi Gras board met on Monday night following the deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, allegedly at the hands of police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon.

“We are humans, we are representative of the community we serve and so we should be there,” she told The Daily Telegraph.

“Conversations we’ve been having are around the under reporting of crimes in the queer community. How is this going to help that?”

Lord Mayor Clover Moore and NSW MP Alex Greenwich at Mardi Gras in 2018. Hollie Adams

It is understood several members of the board are trying to have the decision reviewed.

The NSW Police have marched in the parade for 20 years with Ms Webb taking part for many years.

“I am disappointed, I find it illogical really,” Ms Webb said.

“I can’t understand the logic behind it. I get the distrust and the concern about this matter but don’t brand the whole organisation because of the actions of one individual.”

There has long been a push within some parts of community to not include police, other government officials and corporates, the argument being that it takes away from the original intent of protest at the parade.

NSW MP Alex Greenwich said a decision to ban police would be step backward.

“I want the police to stand with the LGBTQ community everyday, and that includes the mardi gras Parade,” he said. “There is a lot of work to do to improve community safety, and we must do it together.”

On Tuesday, Mr Greenwich told 2GB’s Ben Fordham he understood the board’s decision but urged a rethink.

“The Mardi Gras board I believe are genuinely attempting to reflect the community concern and, and frustration,” he said.

“However, I think now more than ever, it is really important that our community work with the police to ensure that Sydney and NSW is a safe place for the LGBT community. And that work has to be done together.”

Earlier this week, Ms Webb apologised to the families of members of the queer community for actions taken by police in the past following Justice John Sakkar’s report into police brutality and hate crimes against the community in the 80s and 90s.

Ms Webb met with Police Minister Yasmin Catley, Greenwich and other members of the community today.

“To have us withdrawn on the basis I presume of the actions of one person who is currently charged before the court makes no sense to me,” Ms Webb said.

“I think getting past this is including NSW Police in mardi gras and saying we are in this together on the basis we know there has been hurt, we acknowledge the hurt of the past and not to conflate this with the issue of the former officer before the court.”

Of the charges against Mr Lamarre-Condon, she said: “There will be questions asked in the investigation but that is not representative of the whole organisation.”

Late on Monday night, Mardi Gras issued a statement confirming the move.

“In light of this, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Board feels that having the NSW Police march this year could add to the distress within our communities, already deeply affected by recent events,” a statement read.

“The board has taken the decision to request that the police do not march in the 2024 parade.”

The board noted the decision was “not made lightly” and acknowledged the many police officers that are also part of the community “navigating the impact of this tragedy alongside us”.

“However, we believe that their participation at this year’s event could intensify the current feelings of sorrow and distress,” the statement continued.

“This decision allows space for the community to heal this year and acknowledges the profound grief and strain that we are enduring. This is an opportunity to pause and reflect.”

Mardi Gras said it would continue discussions with police to “discuss further”.

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