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The inquiry into gay-hate crimes in NSW has been urged to give "serious consideration" before making public police material into deaths suspected to be linked to homophobia.
The special commission of inquiry, in its second block of hearings, is probing the police approach to suspected hate crimes against LGBTIQ people between 1970 and 2010.
Counsel for NSW Police, Mark Tedeschi SC, said on Monday his client was "very concerned" about evidence planned to be led this week, including worries that it was irrelevant to the inquiry's terms of reference.
He argued that topics outside the terms of reference included the creation of the police bias crime unit, and the creation and operation of Strike Force Parrabell - a taskforce that reviewed 88 deaths from 1976 to 2000.
Another concern was that police case summaries prepared by Parrabell would be publicised, urging "serious consideration" before the admission of such material.
"Those who advised the governer did not want you to inquire into the adequacy or inadequacy of Parabell ... but merely have regard to the material which they have unearthed," Mr Tedeschi submitted.
Commissioner Justice John Sackar asked the lawyer whether "the terms of reference, you say, merely direct me to note the contents ... and do no more?"
"The answer is yes, commissioner," Mr Tedeschi replied.
Counsel assisting the inquiry Peter Grey SC described the timing of the objection as surprising and very late, and said the relevance of Parabell was obvious.
The inquiry is scheduled on Monday to hear evidence from Assistant Commissioner Tony Crandell, who led the three-year Parabell review.
Other witnesses due to appear include a member of the crime prevention command and former and current co-ordinators of the force's hate crime unit.
The royal commission-style inquiry, established at the urging of a parliamentary probe following the Parrabell report, has powers to compel witnesses to attend and to testify.
The probe's first tranche of hearings, in November 2021, heard from the LGBTIQ community, with much evidence relating to violence against gay men.
The inquiry continues.
