Andrew ThompsonA NSW parliamentary inquiry examining the cold cases of more than 50 missing and murdered Australians is scheduled to hand down its committee report by 30 June 2026 — and Ivan Milat is at the centre of it.
The inquiry, led by NSW Upper House MP Jeremy Buckingham, is reviewing whether the convicted serial killer — who died in Goulburn jail in October 2019 while serving seven life sentences — may have been responsible for dozens of additional murders and disappearances spanning multiple decades. At least 50 cases involving young Australians and international backpackers, from the late 1960s to the late 1990s, are under examination.
For the families who have waited years — in some cases, decades — for answers, the inquiry represents a rare formal mechanism to have their case reviewed, their evidence heard, and their losses officially acknowledged. Understanding how that process works, and what rights families hold within it, has become newly urgent.
What the Inquiry Is Examining
Ivan Milat was convicted in 1996 of the backpacker murders: the abduction and killing of seven young travellers whose bodies were found in Belanglo State Forest in New South Wales between 1989 and 1992. Victims came from Australia, New Zealand, Britain, Germany, and the United States.
Police files, however, have long linked Milat to a wider pattern. Investigators have identified at least 58 cold cases — involving young people from their teens to late twenties — that share characteristics with the confirmed murders. The parliamentary inquiry is examining these cases systematically, seeking to determine whether impediments in the original criminal justice process prevented further prosecutions or identifications.
Key questions being put to the committee include: why Milat appeared in identikit images and came to police attention multiple times before his arrest in 1994, what forensic evidence remains unexamined, and whether NSW Police has adequate protocols for investigating serial offenders with multiple potential victims across different time periods.
What Rights Do Families Have in a Parliamentary Inquiry?
For Australians who have a family member connected to the cold cases under review, the parliamentary inquiry process creates several formal rights and opportunities.
The right to make a submission. NSW parliamentary inquiries operate under the Parliamentary Evidence Act 1901 and accept written submissions from members of the public, including families of victims and missing persons. Submissions are confidential if requested, or published on the parliamentary record if the family consents. Legal assistance in drafting a submission is not required, but can be valuable in structuring evidence effectively.
The right to request to appear. Families, witnesses, and other interested parties may request to give oral evidence before the committee. The committee has the power to call witnesses and, if necessary, compel attendance. Families who have previously raised concerns with police or coroners and received inadequate responses have a distinct standing to present that history as part of the inquiry record.
The right to protection. Evidence given before a parliamentary committee carries parliamentary privilege — meaning it cannot form the basis of a defamation action and cannot be used against the witness in civil or criminal proceedings. This protection is significant for families who have previously been reluctant to name persons of interest publicly.
The right to know outcomes. Once the committee report is handed down on 30 June 2026, it will be publicly available and may include recommendations to government, to NSW Police, and to the State Coroner. Families can request updates on whether those recommendations are implemented.
The Role of Coroners and Cold Case Review
NSW has a dedicated Cold Case Homicide Team within the NSW Police Homicide Squad, as well as a State Coroner with the power to reopen inquests into deaths where new evidence emerges. The parliamentary inquiry's recommendations may directly inform coronal re-examinations of specific cases linked to Milat.
For families who have had an inquest finding that they dispute, or who have new evidence that was not available at the time of the original investigation, a lawyer experienced in coronial proceedings can advise on the grounds for seeking a fresh inquest. This process is distinct from the parliamentary inquiry but can run concurrently, with findings from one body informing the other.
Victim support in NSW is coordinated through Victims Services, a government body that provides financial assistance, counselling, and access to legal advice for families of homicide victims. Critically, this support is not limited to recent cases — families of historical murders are eligible and can contact Victims Services regardless of how long ago the death occurred.
Lessons From the Inquiry for Australian Families
The Milat inquiry has renewed public debate about how Australia investigates potential serial offenders, and what obligations the justice system has to families who receive incomplete answers.
For any Australian family connected to an unsolved disappearance or murder — regardless of whether that case falls within the inquiry's scope — there are several practical steps worth knowing:
- Request your case file. Families of homicide victims have a right to request access to police records under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW). A lawyer can assist with this application and identify what information is available.
- Contact the Cold Case Homicide Team. NSW Police accepts tip-offs and new information for cold cases through a dedicated cold case line. Forensic techniques have advanced significantly since many of these cases were investigated in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s.
- Make a submission to the inquiry. The committee is still accepting evidence. Families who have not yet formally presented their case have a window to do so before the June 30 deadline.
- Seek legal advice. A lawyer specialising in victim rights and coronial law can explain options for case review, compensation through Victims Services, and advocacy before the parliamentary committee. Connecting with a qualified legal professional through a network like ExpertZoom's legal panel provides a starting point without the barrier of an upfront consultation fee.
What the Report May Deliver
The committee's June 30 report is expected to contain recommendations on cold case investigation protocols, forensic evidence retention standards, and the resourcing of historical case reviews. Whether it formally concludes that Milat was responsible for additional murders is a matter for the coroner, not the committee — but the inquiry's findings are likely to shape what investigations follow.
For 50-plus families who have lived without answers for decades, the report represents the most significant formal process since Milat's trial in 1996. It will not bring their loved ones back. But the formal acknowledgment of what may have happened — and the institutional failures that may have allowed it — is a form of justice that the Australian legal system is finally extending to them.
If you believe a family member's case falls within the inquiry's scope, legal advice on how to engage with the process is available and worth seeking before the report is finalised.
