NSW Premier Chris Minns says he won't ‘rule out' parliamentary inquiry into Ivan Milat
Premier Chris Minns has declared he would be 'privileged' to meet with the families of more than 80 unsolved murders, which some claim could be connected to Ivan Milat.
Mr Minns said he also would not rule out a parliamentary inquiry into Milat 'and his associates' during a budget estimates hearing on Wednesday morning.
Milat died in prison in 2019, having been convicted over the deaths of two men and five women between 1989 and 1992, known as the backpacker murders.
He has since become the subject of intense and longstanding media attention, with amateur sleuths and cold case police connecting dozens of alleged murders to him.
Under questions from Legalise Cannabis Party MLC Jeremy Buckingham, Mr Minns said he would not rule out an inquiry into Milat and other cold case murders.
Ivan Milat died in prison in 2019 having been convicted over the deaths of two men and five women between 1989 and 1992. Picture: Supplied.
'Perhaps the best thing for me to do is to meet with you (Mr Buckingham), and I'm with you … would be a privilege to meet victims' families,' Mr Minns said.
'I think that's an important thing to do, to understand not just their circumstances and their anguish associated with the loss of their loved one.
'But, I wouldn't rule it (an inquiry) out. I think that may be the necessary next step, given the scale of some of the things.'
Mr Minns was shown pictures of Milat and a police sketch of a man connected with the killing of two women at Wanda Beach in 1965.
Asked if they were similar, Mr Minns said 'I'm concerned they are incredibly similar.
Premier Chris Minns says he would be 'privileged' to meet with the families of more than 80 unsolved murders. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard
'If there's government information that can shine a light or a spotlight on further investigations, or even advocacy on your part that can prompt somebody with some kind of information about these horrible murders, then I think it's worthwhile.'
The Legislative Council earlier this year passed a motion under Standing Order 52 to produce work records of Ivan Milat from his time with government agencies.
Mr Buckingham said the council was instead supplied with 'just a few pages'.
'They do not show in any way what his role was, what he was doing, and, most importantly, where he worked and when'.
Asked why the records were not supplied, Cabinet Office Secretary Kate Boyd said she would get back to Mr Buckingham later on Wednesday afternoon.
Originally published as NSW Premier Chris Minns says he won't 'rule out' parliamentary inquiry into Ivan Milat
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