Independent MP for Warringah Allegra Spender says Mardi Gras is a time of bringing the community together and hopes organisers and NSW Police can come together in deciding on whether to allow police to march.

Speaking on Sky News, Spender said it was not up to her to make the call on whether police should march.

Her comments come as the LGBTQ community grieves the deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies. Beau Lamarre-Condon, a police officer who had previously marched in the parade, has been charged with the murders of Baird and Davies and is in custody.

“Luke and Jesse were actually from my electorate, so the community is really, really hurting right now, and I think there is real concern and anger in some cases against some of the police actions,” she said.

“But at the same time, the Mardi Gras is a time of bringing the community together, so I understand the police and Mardi Gras are in talks, I think it’s up to … both of those groups to come together and see if there’s a way forward.”

Spender would not say if she thought it was a “cruel” decision.

“I think this is up to Mardi Gras and I hope they do talk through to the police and see if there is an opportunity to bring the police back to Mardi Gras, because I think it is important that the police are a part of Mardi Gras as much as they can be,” she said.

“Speaking to some of the community over the weekend, this isn’t just about those tragic deaths and how they were handled, there are broader issues at play, including the investigations into LGBTQ people who lost their lives.”