New laws designed to cripple Sydney's organised crime networks by targeting encrypted devices are being delayed by fears of "unintended consequences" for banks and political parties.
There have been at least 16 murders linked to city's underworld in the past two years, but police have only laid charges over a handful of the alleged hits.
Senior officers say they have been frustrated by the use of encrypted communications to advertise, plan and execute many of the killings out of the reach of investigators.
In June, the NSW government announced it would introduce tougher laws, including legislation targeting the use of encryption by criminals to avoid law enforcement.
The laws would make it an offence to possess those types of encrypted devices and allow police to better target "high-risk individuals from using them to orchestrate crime".
At a budget estimates hearing on Wednesday, Deputy Premier Paul Toole was questioned by Labor MPs about a perceived lack of urgency in introducing the bill, despite the ongoing violence.
Earlier this month, two women were killed after a shooting outside a home in Panania — no arrests have yet been made.
"The review of the Crime Commission Act was finalised in 2020, it recommended laws of this nature then ... you've done nothing," Labor's Adam Searle said.
Mr Toole, who is also the Police Minister, admitted the legislation is not complete.
He said matters around police having powers to seize encrypted devices used by political parties and banks as an unintended consequence are "being addressed".
"What guarantees of privacy are going to be in that bill?" NSW Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MLC, Robert Borsak said.
"That's the bit that's actually being dealt with now. Encrypted devices are being used by organisations like banks as well," Mr Toole said.
"We want to make sure it doesn't capture unintended consequences around banks and all of that."
"And political parties?" Mr Borsak said.
"That's right, so we're going to make sure that we don't capture them," Mr Toole said.
"We're targeting those organisations and we're targeting those criminals that are involved in unsavoury activities across this state."
Homicide Squad boss Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said he believed investigators were making progress in the multiple murder probes under the umbrella of Taskforce Erebus.
His comments came on Monday after the dramatic arrest of senior Comanchero figure Tarek Zahed, who was charged over a murder allegedly committed in 2014.
Police said there was no link between the alleged murder and the shooting of Mr Zahed himself in May.
NSW Police has pushed for the reforms, which also cover money laundering, arguing it would significantly assist it in the fight against organised crime.
Mr Toole told the hearing the legislation would be introduced when NSW parliament returns in September.
