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AAP
AAP
National
Joanna Guelas

Gay hate inquiry returns to probe police failures

Mark Tedeschi will represent NSW Police at the special inquiry into LGBTIQ hate crimes in Sydney. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Senior NSW police will again be made to confront historical policing failures at an inquiry into gay hate crimes.

Mark Tedeschi will represent NSW Police when the special inquiry into LGBTIQ hate crimes resumes in Sydney on Friday to examine the ways police have approached "bias crime" from 1970 to the present.

The matter was first heard in December 2022, including evidence from Strike Force Parrabell, Neiwand and Macnamir.

Police said in December the inquiry had required significant resources and stalled a dozen homicide investigations.

Counsel assisting, Peter Gray, told the inquiry a letter from NSW Police had asserted that "considerable" resources had been diverted to answer summons and produce documents for the commission.

The letter said because of the inquiry's orders, "around 12 investigations, and reviews by the unsolved homicide team have had to be placed on hold".

Commissioner Justice John Sackar said for police to allege deliberate interruption of unsolved homicide work was without foundation and "frankly unacceptable".

"If it's intended to put pressure on this commission it's not going to work,'' he said.

"If it's intended to be offensive it worked because it is offensive."

He dismissed the claim as a "misguided and misconceived assertion by someone who may well have entirely underestimated the resources the NSW Police need to perform the task".

Police also voiced concern about making police material related to the inquiry public, arguing that some of it was not relevant.

Mr Gray described the timing of the objection as surprising and very late, and said the relevance of Parabell was obvious.

The inquiry into LGBTQI hate crimes has been examining the unsolved deaths of 88 gay men between 1970 and 2010.

The 13th and final block of hearings will occur next week.

The commissioner, Supreme Court Justice John Sackar, will deliver a final report in August.

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