By Michael Koziol, Jessica McSweeney and Judith Ireland
Mardi Gras organisers and NSW Police have discussed a potential deal that would allow officers to march in Saturday’s parade out of uniform.
It would overturn a decision made on Monday night by the board of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras requesting police not to participate in this year’s event due to raw grief and anger following the alleged murder of Sydney couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies by a serving officer.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb and Police Minister Yasmin Catley exit a meeting with Mardi Gras on Tuesday.Credit: Nine
Police Minister Yasmin Catley emerged from an hour-long meeting with Mardi Gras directors and Police Commissioner Karen Webb on Tuesday morning praising the “really positive” interaction.
“We had a really respectful conversation with the group up there,” Catley said. “It’s positive, and we’re going to continue to keep talking. It’s a confidential meeting, and I’m keeping it confidential. But it was a really positive meeting and very respectful.”
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb about 10am on Tuesday waiting outside to meet with the Mardi Gras organisation on Tuesday.Credit: Andrew Pearson
Separately, sources who were not authorised by either party to speak about the matter, but were involved in talks overnight, said one option discussed was for police to march out of uniform. No decision was reached on Tuesday and Mardi Gras would have to consider that option, they said.
On Tuesday morning, before the meeting, Premier Chris Minns also said he was hopeful that an agreement would be reached between Mardi Gras organisers and the police.
“I don’t want to pre-judge those negotiations, but I think it’s a good sign that they’re prepared to have a dialogue and discussion between them,” he said.
Independent MP for Sydney Alex Greenwich, who is gay and has been instrumental in a number of LGBTQ social reforms at a state and national level, was also confident about finding a way forward.
“It’s my view that it’s best that the police stand with us 365 days a year, and that includes during the Mardi Gras Parade,” Greenwich told the ABC on Tuesday. “We need to work together to make Sydney and NSW a safer place for the LGBT community. It’s essential that we do it hand-in-hand.”
Greenwich said it was important to remember the officers who marched in the NSW Police float were also members of the LGBTQ community.
Luke Davies and Jesse Baird, the gay couple who have been allegedly murdered.
Earlier, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he understood the Mardi Gras board’s decision given the queer community was grieving in the aftermath of the alleged murders.
Speaking to ABC Melbourne, Albanese said he thought it was “very good” that police have marched in the parade, which they began doing in 1998, 20 years after the first Mardi Gras.
“It’s come a long way from the 1978 Mardi Gras where people were arrested for the crime of being who they are,” he said. “But I understand that the queer community in Sydney in particular … are grieving what is an enormous tragedy.
“My heart goes out to those who are grieving – from the family and friends of these two men who have really suffered, you know Jesse [Baird] and Luke [Davies], people will be doing it tough at the moment and I understand that.”
Anthony Albanese became the first sitting prime minister to march in the annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade.Credit: Flavio Brancaleone
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras board said in a statement late on Monday night that many community members had voiced concerns, “particularly regarding feelings of unease at the parade”.
Those concerns “centre on whether it can still be a space to protest, celebrate, and advocate for equality, as well as to honour and grieve for those we’ve lost, given the NSW Police’s participation in this year’s event”, the statement said.
The community should be given space to grieve the loss of Davies and Baird, the statement said. The board said it had decided the presence of police in the parade could add to distress within the community.
“This decision was not made lightly, especially considering that many NSW Police members who participate in the parade are also members of the LGBTQIA+ community and are navigating the impact of this tragedy alongside us,” the board said.
NSW Police march in the 2017 Mardi Gras parade.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
“This decision allows space for the community to heal this year and acknowledges the profound grief and strain that we are enduring.”
Earlier on Tuesday ahead of her meeting with the Mardi Gras board, Webb said she would accept the outcome.
“I think this time more than any in our society it’s time to come together … to exclude part of the community sends the wrong message,” Webb told Channel Nine’s Today.
On Tuesday afternoon the activist group Pride in Protest, which has long advocated to remove police from Mardi Gras celebrations, will hold a press conference at Taylor Square.