To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales in Parliament assembled.

The petitioners of New South Wales state that there are wide-ranging and systemic issues surrounding missing persons investigations currently managed by the NSW Police Force including those regarding persons described as long-term missing.

The petitioners request that the House immediately commences a parliamentary inquiry into missing persons investigations currently carried out and overseen by the NSW Police Force, and commences action to fund and provide legislative support to a new independent search organisation tasked with management and oversight of missing persons investigations.

Parliamentary Inquiry Request - Summary

The petition outlines several critical issues regarding missing persons cases in New South Wales, particularly focusing on the challenges faced by families and the shortcomings of law enforcement agencies. Here's a summarised breakdown:

1.      Families' Struggle: Families of missing persons endure immense emotional and financial strain while searching for their loved ones, often without adequate support from authorities.

2.      Scope of the Problem: There are over 2500 long-term missing persons cases, (816 of those in NSW) reported in Australia, with insufficient resources allocated for searches and investigations.

3.      Call for Parliamentary Inquiry: There's a strong plea for a Parliamentary Inquiry to investigate police actions regarding missing persons and address the lack of oversight in long-term missing persons cases.

4.      Law Enforcement Challenges: Law enforcement faces significant challenges in managing missing persons cases, including inadequate resources, training, and support.

5.      National Responsibility: Missing persons cases have risen dramatically, reaching approximately 55,000 reports in Australia in 2022, (9976 reports in NSW) with varying responses from law enforcement agencies across the country. We need to start here in New South Wales.

6.      Search Efforts: Private organisations, such as Search Dogs Sydney Inc, offer support in search operations, but face challenges in collaboration with law enforcement agencies.

7.      Failures in Collaboration: Despite efforts by volunteer organisations, collaboration with law enforcement is hindered by bureaucratic obstacles and lack of support.

8.      Inadequate Standards: There's a lack of national accreditation standards for canine search teams, leading to inconsistencies in search operations and effectiveness.

9.      Coronial Investigations: Recommendations from coronial investigations are not consistently followed by law enforcement agencies, highlighting systemic issues in addressing missing persons cases.

10.  Need for Reform: There's a pressing need for comprehensive reform in how missing persons cases are handled, including improved coordination, resource allocation, and adherence to recommendations.

11.  Public Engagement: Law enforcement agencies need to engage the public effectively in missing persons cases, utilising available technologies and community resources.

12.  Call to Action: The petition calls for urgent action, including the establishment of an independent oversight organisation (Search NSW) and a thorough inquiry into missing persons cases statewide.

Overall, the petition underscores the urgency of addressing systemic issues and improving responses to missing persons cases in New South Wales.