[3]: 162  While they attacked McMahon, they allegedly discussed a similar murder committed at the cliffs a month prior, pointing to them also perpetrating the death of John Russell.

[20] Percentage of cases with evidence of bias crime, as determined by Strike Force Parrabell[2]: 24 The murders and bashings that took place during the period were generally considered suicides or disconnected incidents at the time, and subsequently went largely uninvestigated for several decades.

[15] Operation Taradale was the first effort to reinvestigate cases from the period, originating in 2001 when Detective Sergeant Steve Page noticed a similarity between the deaths of Ross Warren and John Russell.

[5] In 2005, the final report was delivered to deputy coroner Jacqueline Milledge,[22] who subsequently recategorised the deaths of Warren and Russell as homicides,[23] describing the original investigations as "grossly inadequate" and "shameful".

[24] It found that while police at the time were aware of the gangs of teenagers that committed the majority of these crimes, little was done to address the issue and early investigations into these attacks were "inadequate and naive".

[5] In 2023, NSW Police "quietly reversed" their 2005 inquest findings,[25] and in evident seachange towards willingness to investigate gay related killings, welcomed the three $100,000 rewards posted for the capture of the killers of Warren, Mataini and Russell.

[26] On 30 August 2015, Strike Force Parrabell was formed by the NSW police to investigate the circumstances of 88 deaths identified by several 2013 news articles[2]: 17  and a 2000 submission to the Australian Institute of Criminology.

[39] Despite the Coalition's traditionally conservative opposition to LGBT rights however, senior figures within the Liberal Party spearheaded initiatives key to the investigation, prosecution, and ultimately the prevention of LGBT-related hate crime.

[41][48] Alongside its data documenting bullying and violence against LGBT+ students, Griffin's report revealed significant under-reporting by victims out of fear of reprisals, and outing to their families and peers.

A copy of the SchoolWatch Report was sent to Mrs Chadwick, who expressed alarm at its findings in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, confirming she had heard "very sad, and sometimes horrifying stories" about discrimination.