Overview
- The inquiry began public hearings on Thursday and has received dozens of submissions alleging historic links between unsolved disappearances from 1965–2010 and Ivan Milat.
- Witnesses including Steven Clark have told the committee of a 1970s hitchhiker encounter they say involved Milat and that a police speeding stop may have prevented harm.
- Families such as Kevin Docherty presented evidence and searches focused on Warilla and nearby scrubland, and told the inquiry police delayed contact, lost exhibits and failed to follow leads.
- Former assistant commissioner John Laycock submitted that Task Force Air previously matched only two cases to Milat and disputed claims he was responsible for many more killings.
- The committee has visited Belanglo State Forest, will continue collecting evidence and records, and may recommend searches or reforms to how cold cases are linked and investigated.