The deadline for a landmark report into LGBTQI hate crimes has been pushed back after delays in police providing documents and the collection of new forensic evidence.
More than 140,000 documents have been provided from various state institutions to a special commission of inquiry examining dozens of gay hate crimes between 1970 and 2010.
But with hearings ongoing and forensic evidence being retested, the delivery of a final report by the end of August has proved impossible.
An extension to December 15 was granted on Wednesday.
This was "required due to late production of records by the NSW Police Force and promising developments arising from forensic testing undertaken at the direction of the inquiry", an inquiry spokeswoman said in a statement.
Investigative steps were still ongoing including testing or re-testing of exhibits, fingerprinting analysis and conferences with witnesses.
"This inquiry may be the final opportunity for detailed consideration of some cases and may be the last chance for perpetrators to be identified," the spokeswoman said.
"It also represents what might be the last opportunity for the LGBTIQ community and the loved ones of the victims to learn the truth of what happened."
The inquiry was initially due to report back to the governor by June 30 but received a two-month extension in May.
Police in July conceded the longstanding issue of missing records was "notorious" in the force.
Before 2004, there was no system in place for the management or review of unsolved homicides.
Detectives later relied on an online text document to keep recording unsolved homicides and suspicious deaths
A failed attempt by police to keep the homicide of US mathematician Scott Johnson out of the inquiry also held up the work of Commissioner Justice John Sackar.
Police have fielded 165 summonses from the inquiry, about one in every three issued.
A 16th set of public hearings will take place next week.
