Community consultation: NSW Police Force participation at Sydney Mardi Gras Parade

During this year the Board heard from members that increased transparency around the decision making process would be appreciated by our members. This update from the Board is to keep members informed about the ongoing discussions within the organisation and the communities about the police and the organisation.

There has been an ongoing discourse in Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ community about the participation of the New South Wales Police Force (NSWPF) in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.

In 2023, Members at an Annual General Meeting requested that the organisation end the NSW Police Accord. As a result of this motion being passed, the Management team reviewed our relationship with the Police in relation to their operational and participatory roles in the Parade.

One of the key changes was that NSWPF would be required to submit an application to participate in the Parade which would be assessed against an available set of criteria by a panel of independent arts and culture professionals (the curatorial committee). This change was implemented this year, the management and Board do not have any influence on the decisions made by the curatorial committee.

In 2024 following the Sydney Mardi Gras season, the Board committed to a community consultation on police participation in the parade. Prior to starting this process we engaged with members to determine the best format for these consultations

• 1 in person session for Mardi Gras Members
• 1 in person session for broader community and Mardi Gras Members
• 2 online sessions for broader  community and Mardi Gras Members

The summary report of these consultations is available here. Readers should know this report contains discussion on triggering themes including policing, violence and harm.

The aims of these sessions were to listen to community and Mardi Gras Members, to allow a space for people to share their experiences and to develop a motion that the Board would present to the Mardi Gras Membership at the 2024 AGM in relation to NSWPF participation in the parade.

It was not in the scope of this consultation to explore broader issues with operational policing of our events.

After consideration of the report, discussion about Directors’ experiences at the consultations and careful thought about our obligation to members and the organisation the Board will be presenting the following motion to the members at our upcoming AGM.

Motion: This AGM moves that the NSW Police Force not be able to march in the parade until such time as they demonstrate a commitment to improving relationships with LGBTQIA+ communities.

The Board is not recommending members vote for or against this motion – it will be put up for members to discuss and decide. Motions are easier to discuss and vote on when written as an affirmative statement, but this motion does not reflect a desire of the Board – it comes from a result of consideration of the consultation process.

This motion does not exclude any individual (including LGBTQIA+ police officers and NSWPF staff) from marching in the parade as an entry, provided their application meets the Parade Entrants criteria and they are not representing the NSWPF as an organisation. The consultations highlighted that individuals who identify as members of our communities and allies of our communities should not face exclusion from our community events. The consultation also highlighted that there are ongoing concerns about the NSWPF as an organisation not demonstrating a commitment to better relationships and policing practices with our communities. That is why the motion specifically names the NSWPF as an organisation.

The consultation process also highlighted the importance of ongoing communication and a desire to build on previous successes with NSW Police, while acknowledging that there are historic and contemporary concerns with how police operate (with our communities and other marginalised communities). This motion does not seek to end the ongoing collaboration between SGLMG and NSWPF as we work towards improving relationships between police and LGBTQIA+ communities. We do not feel that these conversations should be contingent on NSWPF police participation in Parade. That is why the motion speaks to a potential return to the parade should tangible improvements occur.

The Board also considered the context in which this motion is being presented. These included the recent release of the Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTQI hate crimes (the Sackar report), other Pride organisations in Australia and globally, and the history of motions and the responses to these motions at our Annual General Meetings. It became clear that the way NSWPF interacts with our communities and other marginalised communities is not creating a sense of safety for everyone in our communities. While many people respect and feel protected by NSWPF, many also feel threatened or marginalised. It was clear that there were improvements to be made, and more effort needed on behalf of the NSWPF to respond to the concerns of a significant part of our communities.

The motion calls for demonstrated improvement rather than outlining specific targets that would allow the NSWPF to participate. At this stage, the Board feels that we do not have clarity on what this improvement would look like. It is our intent to continue working with communities, members and the NSWPF to define those parameters. This process requires us to engage in good faith, maintain open dialogue and commit to work. It requires the NSWPF to do the same.

The Parade is an event in which our communities show the best of us. For nearly five decades this event has been a unique combination of protest and celebration that reflects who we are, who we were and who we want to be. We are asking our members to reflect on whether the inclusion of the NSWPF at this time upholds our values, or whether there is work to be done by NSWPF before that is the case.

The following things will occur in the following months:

• All members will be invited to the 2024 Annual General Meeting at which the motion proposed will be put to members by the Board. This will be accompanied by an explanatory memorandum which outlines the case for and against supporting the motion. This memorandum is required to be submitted with the motion by the SGLMG Constitution. 
• In December, we will hold the AGM in which members will be able to speak for or against the motion and vote on the motion.
• If the motion does not pass, the NSWPF will continue to be able to apply to participate in parades from 2026 onwards.
• If the motion passes, we will not accept parade applications from NSWPF and the Board will continue to engage with communities, members and the NSWPF to determine a pathway for NSWPF to be eligible for participation.
• Concurrently, the curatorial committee will assess and score the NSWPF 2025 Parade application, and it will be determined whether or not it is accepted into the parade. SGLMG and the Board do not have influence over this decision, it is made by an independent panel against clear selection criteria.

The consultation process has been incredibly rewarding, and also emotionally confronting for SGLMG staff, board members as well as the Mardi Gras Members and broader community. Our community has strong views on this issue, many rooted in personal experience. We have found the honesty, respect and care for each other that was evident across almost all of the consultation process allowed us to develop, learn and grow. We ask that over the next few months as this discussion moves into the public space that we remain respectful, considered and caring. 

If you or people you know are affected by discussions around this we encourage you to seek support from a service like QLife (1800 184 527).

Finally, we would like to thank a number of people. 

Cath Glasson-Ashburn who facilitated the consultation sessions and developed the framework and summary report as a volunteer has been invaluable in allowing community voices to be heard and recorded.

The staff at SGLMG, especially Gil Beckwith, Dusty Hartland and Jake Troncone have ensured that the process for the consultations and communications have been seamless.

And to our members and communities who have attended consultations and completed the survey – without you none of this would have been possible. You have demonstrated the best part of Sydney Mardi Gras – community coming together in the face of a challenge and working to self determine our future. All directors were overwhelmed by the courage, compassion and consideration you have brought to this process. Thank you.