Mardi Gras 2024: Qantas’ tribute after alleged murders of Luke Davies, Jesse Baird

Qantas has made a special tribute to flight attendant Luke Davies at Sydney’s 2024 Mardi Gras parade, following his alleged murder at the hands of a serving police officer. NCA NewsWire understands Sandy Davies joined Qantas crew on board the float, which featured the nose of a plane with Mr Davies’ name marked on it, as it made its way along Oxford Street on Saturday night. Police will allege Mr Davies was killed, along with his new boyfriend Jesse Baird, by then-senior constable Beau Lamarre-Condon, who had previously had an intimate relationship with Mr Baird. Police will allege in court Lamarre-Condon, who worked in the NSW Police Youth Command, used his service weapon to kill the pair. On Saturday, the airline added Mr Davies’ name to its float, which displayed the nose of a plane topped with a rainbow. Under the iconic red kangaroo, the flight attendant’s name was displayed. Mr Davies had been working for Qantas since September 2022, and had moved to Sydney from Brisbane in November to begin working on international routes. “Luke was a much-loved member of the Qantas cabin crew community in Brisbane and Sydney,” Qantas’ executive manager of cabin crew Leeanne Langridge said in a statement earlier this week. “He had a passion for travel, life, his family and friends and the customers that he served. He will be deeply missed. The whole team at Qantas are thinking of Luke and Jesse’s loved ones.” Pop star G-Flip sat in the cockpit of the plane, with the driver giving a salute to cameras as it passed by. Protests spark chaos, arrestsThe parade ended in chaos on Saturday night, with multiple arrested after a pro-Palestinian protest sparked chaos just metres from where the Premier was marching.Shocking video of the moment, just after 9.30pm, showed a woman from a pro-Palestinian protest group appearing to pass a flare to someone watching on from behind the metal fencing set up along the route as police wrestled a large banner reading ‘queer solidarity with Palestinian resistance’ from her. The woman moved toward the middle of the street, before four officers managed to move her back to the fence. More protesters, who are also believed to have been part of the marching group, were then seen running around, their faces covered as they waved green and white flares. As police flooded the area to remove the group, signs for Rainbow Labor could be seen directly behind them. ‘Interesting’: Mardi Gras CEO on crisis meeting with top cops Mardi Gras CEO Gil Beckwith has shared new details about the meeting between parade organisers and NSW Police, after officers were formally uninvited to march in Saturday’s event. The decision, made off the back of the arrest of Lamarre-Condon, was short-lived. Police were once more invited to march, albeit not in uniform, following a last-minute summit between top brass and organisers. As the parade kicked off, Ms Beckwith told ABC hosts Courtney Act and Mon Schafter it had been a “challenging” week. “It has been a really challenging week for everyone. Obviously the loss of those two beautiful young men has been quite heartbreaking for so many in our community,” she said. “Obviously we’ve had quite an interesting week in terms of working with the police and how we manage that, how we also managed our community’s expectation about what is actually happening, so it has been challenging and I’m really glad that we are here tonight. “I’m glad we can be here and do it in the best way we can possibly do it.” Ms Beckwith said the conversation, which also coincided with the handing down of the special commission of inquiry into the police response to gay hate crimes, was a positive step for the LGBTQI+ community. “I think it has been a long journey and we are actually changing, but to sit down with police and say there is a bit more difficulty here, maybe we change that and make things a little bit more respectful … for me, I always want to be in the room to have a discussion rather than being outside. “I do think that what we’re doing now will change in the future about how we work with the police and I think that is still important for our community.” Ms Beckwith said it would be primarily gay and lesbian officers, as well as their allies, on the NSW Police float. She said coming to an agreement was a process of liaison, and not the two groups making demands of each other. “Obviously really good to have people walk into our room and say what can we do for you to make things better, and that is what I am holding on to,” she said. Anti-cop protesters storm Mardi Gras Earlier, a large crowd of protesters marched through Hyde Park in Sydney ahead of the parade to protest the involvement of NSW Police. Marching through the park towards the marshalling area for the parade on Saturday, the crowd chanted “stop police attacks on gays, women and blacks”. The organisers, Pride in Protest, also sparked chaos in Darlinghurst, the heart of the city’s LGBTQI+ community on Friday night, when about 300 people arrived for the same reason. Officers on duty will be out in force at the parade, however, drawing further ire from the group. Pride in Protest organisers summoned those marching with the group to Town Hall for a “speak out” event from 2pm on Saturday, with the march towards the marshalling area in Hyde Park taking place just after 4pm. Sharing a photo of the police contingent assigned to the group’s pre-parade protest on Instagram, organisers remarked: “This might as well be their float”. In the marshalling area, one protester brandished a large sign showing a gun with blood splatter, flanked by the rainbow flag. A costume police uniform was draped on top of the canvas, which read: “Missing these?” Parade kicks off in burst of colour Dykes on Bikes led Saturday’s march, as they do every year, with a flurry of colour Floats hit the streets just before 8pm on Saturday, as family groups and even a Mardi Gras bus sent crowds into a frenzy. Pink appeared to be the colour of the night, with a specially designed transit bus also making its way down the street. Above the blaring music and the roars of the bikes, the cheers of the crowd could still be heard. Thousands gather ahead of march With more than 12,000 people expected to hit the parade route on Saturday night, Hyde Park was packed out with sequins, bright colours and animal masks as the day turned to night. Groups were seen practicing their moves and touching up their outfits ahead of the 7.30pm kickoff. While marchers primped, things were just as busy along the parade route, with footpaths heaving with excited attendees. Milk crates and stools are the most valuable items for those on the sidelines, guaranteeing a better view for those on the short side. Where can you watch Sydney’s Mardi Gras Parade? Saturday night’s mardi gras Parade will begin on the corner of Hyde Park and Oxford Street at 7.30pm, travel along Oxford and Flinders Streets and conclude at Moore Park about 11pm. Watching from the street is free, but crowds are expected to be heaving along the parade route and throughout the city, with parties taking place across the CBD. Anyone wanting to avoid the crowds can buy tickets for prime viewing areas, with some still available on Saturday afternoon. Those watching from home can tune in on ABC from 7.30pm or on iview. The broadcast will be hosted by Australia’s most iconic drag star, Courtney Act, non-binary musician G-Flip, actor Remy Hii, and ABCQueer host Mon Schafter. Who will march? This year’s Mardi Gras is set to be a big one, with more than 12,000 marchers set to make their way along the route. The parade will start off with a roar with Dykes on Bikes, followed by Boys on Bikes and Melbourne Motorcycle Tourers. Nearly 200 floats, representing groups within the LGBTQI+ community, government and community organisations, and major corporations, are expected to travel along the parade route this year. First Nations will kick off the floats, to be followed by the original marchers, the 78’ers. Alex Greenwich, NSWs only openly gay MP, will join Clover Moore on a float called ‘fearless representatives’ early on. Chris Minns will join the Rainbow Labor NSW float, marking the first time a NSW Premier has marched in the parade. A contingent from the NSW Police Force will march, though not in uniform, after they were uninvited from the parade following the alleged murders of Luke Davies and Jesse Baird at the hands of a serving police officer. When NSW Police were uninvited, the Australian Federal Police also pulled out of the parade, and did not reverse their decision following the re-inclusion of NSW Police. Qantas will make a special tribute to its former employee Mr Davies during its time on the parade route, having etched his name onto its float, and group members are expected to wear black armbands in tribute. Parade to halt for moment of silence Organisers of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade have revealed they will halt the parade through to pay tribute Mr Baird and Mr Davies, amid sombre reflections on the couple’s lives days ahead of the event. Mr Baird, 26 and his boyfriend Mr Davies, 29, were allegedly murdered at Baird’s sharehouse in Paddington at about 9.30am in February 19. Senior constable Beau Lamarre-Condon is accused of using his police-issued pistol to shoot them, before dumping the bodies at a rural property. A moment of silence will be observed for the young couple during this evening’s parade, which is due to start at 6pm. “We will take a moment to honour and remember Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, whose lives were tragically taken from us,” Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras said in a statement on Saturday. “This moment of commemoration serves as a powerful reminder of the bonds that unite us and the memories of those we hold dear. “As the Dykes on Bikes approach Taylor Square for their second pass — the heart of our Parade — they will come to a pause. “This serves as a signal for all attendees to join in a moment of silence.” Mr Davies will also be honoured by his former employer, Qantas, on its float during the parade. Hundreds of people gathered in Green Park in Darlinghurst on Friday night, an evening that would usually signal the start of a weekend of celebration and partying. Instead, friends, family and members of the LGBTQIA+ community gathered at dusk to pay tribute to the lives of the young couple whose live were cut so tragically short.