‘Slap in the face’: NSW Premier Chris Minns slams potential banning of police from 2025 Mardi Gras

NSW Premier Chris Minns has slammed the potential banning of police marching at next year’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras as “divisive” and a “slap in the face”.

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (SGLMG) members are set to vote on whether police will be allowed to attend the major event at this Saturday’s annual general meeting, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Members will vote on three resolutions, including a recommendation that police be banned from the event until they “demonstrate a commitment to improving relationships with LGBTQIA+ communities”.

Other resolutions include a potential permanent ban as well as officers being able to march without uniform just as they were this year.

Explanatory documents seen by the Sydney Morning Herald state interactions with NSW Police don’t create a sense of safety for the LGBTQIA+ and other marginalised communities, with “more effort needed” from the force.

More than half of respondents to the Mardis Gras community sentiment report believe police should not march, with the figure sitting at 54 per cent of the 96 members.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said he hoped police aren’t banned from the event and that it would be a “slap in the face” to the “many gay and lesbian members of NSW Police that serve with distinction and regard themselves as members of the LGBTQ+ community”.

“I think it would be a slap in the face for them if the organisers disinvite them from marching,” Mr Minns said at a press conference on Thursday.

“I’d be really disappointed, I think it acts contrary to what’s been great about Mardi Gras and that is that it’s one of the big events of the year that pulls us together.

“This is divisive and will split us further apart.”

He said organisers would rely on NSW Police to “keep peace and safety” during the march and called a potential ban “hypocritical”.

A NSW Police statement said police “look forward to continuing to work with Mardi Gras organisers”.

“The NSW Police Force is dedicated to supporting LGBTQIA+ communities and takes pride in its role as a community leader for inclusion and diversity,” the statement said.

“The NSW Police Force works closely with Mardi Gras organisers to ensure the safety and success of its events.”

The fresh wave of debate comes after NSW Police officers were uninvited from this year’s SGLMG celebrations after officer Beau Lamarre-Condon was charged with the murder of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies at a Paddington home on February 19.

However, a deal was later reached for police to attend without their uniforms, with Police Commissioner Karen Webb “delighted” by the decision.

“The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is an important event on the NSW Police calendar and as commissioner, I am committed to continuing to strengthen the relationship between my organisation and the LGBTQIA+ community,” Ms Webb said.

“I thank the Mardi Gras board for the cordial discussions over the past few days.”

NewsWire has contacted SGLMG for comment.

An SGLMG spokesperson told The Sydney Morning Herald that it was a “deeply complex” issue and 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,” the spokesperson told the masthead.