Families of missing people and unsolved murder victims have called for greater police resources and systemic reforms during a public hearing of the New South Wales parliamentary inquiry into unsolved murders and long-term missing persons cases, held in Grafton.

The inquiry, which is examining unresolved homicide and missing persons cases between 1965 and 2010, heard emotional evidence from relatives who described decades of grief, frustration and unanswered questions. Many told the committee they believe cold case investigations have been hampered by limited staffing and an inability to promptly pursue new leads.

Among those giving evidence was Sally Leydon, daughter of missing woman Marion Barter, who disappeared in 1997. Leydon told the inquiry she believes NSW Police officers are committed to solving cold cases but are overwhelmed by a lack of resources. She said the NSW Police Unsolved Homicide Unit has only 38 staff responsible for investigating approximately 753 unsolved matters, making it difficult for investigators to respond quickly when new information emerges.

The inquiry also heard from Joni Condos, an independent researcher who assisted in uncovering new information relating to Marion Barter's disappearance. She called for the creation of a national register of missing persons and unidentified human remains, as well as a formal process allowing experienced volunteer researchers to work collaboratively with police on unresolved investigations.

Another witness, Peter Stace, whose 16-year-old daughter Lee Ellen Stace was murdered near Yamba in 1997, expressed frustration over the number of investigators assigned to cold cases. He said families often experience repeated changes in investigators over many years, making it difficult to maintain continuity and confidence in the investigative process.

The inquiry also heard from the sisters of Narelle Cox, who disappeared in 1977 after leaving Grafton intending to hitchhike to Noosa. They described how police responses at the time were slow and dismissive because Narelle was an adult, saying their family endured years of false hope and uncertainty. While acknowledging that modern missing-person investigations are generally handled much more quickly, they said families affected by historical cases continue to suffer from the absence of closure.

The parliamentary inquiry was established in October 2025 to examine whether historical investigations into unsolved murders and long-term missing persons cases were handled appropriately and to identify reforms that could improve future investigations. Previous hearings examined cases across southern New South Wales, including evidence relating to possible links with serial killer Ivan Milat, while the Grafton hearing focused primarily on unresolved cases from the state's North Coast.

The committee's next public hearing is scheduled to be held in Newcastle in August 2026, before further hearings in Sydney later in the year. Families hope the inquiry will ultimately lead to increased funding, better coordination between agencies and renewed investigative efforts into some of the state's oldest unresolved cases.