Acting Police Minister Kristina Keneally announced the reward today to anyone who can provide information leading to an arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the crime.

The partially burnt body of 23-year-old Ms Childs was found by the roadside near Gerroa in June 2001.

Ms Childs - an employee of Camden Holden - was believed to be meeting someone at the Bargo Hotel, where her car was found.

Ms Keneally called the murder “shocking and brutal”.

“It’s unclear what happened to Rachelle between the evening of June 7, 2001 and the early hours of the following morning,” she said.

“One can only imagine the pain and suffering her family has gone through.

“The person responsible for this shocking crime needs to be brought to justice, and Rachelle’s family needs this.”

Police were still uncovering new information, Ms Keneally said, but the attraction of a reward could encourage someone new to come forward with more details.

“This might be the missing piece police need to help solve this crime,” she said.

In the coronial inquiry, Deputy State Coroner Jane Culver found Ms Childs had most likely been murdered.

Detective Superintendent Geoff Beresford from the Homicide Squad said the police would take on board the coroner’s recommendations about the way suspicious deaths were handled in the first 48 hours.

“Any information at all would be of assistance - anyone who saw her leave the hotel,” he said.

“We’re hopeful that the people who did see her on the night that she went missing or anyone associated with Camden Holden can come forward.

“With these investigations it’s difficult to say how close to a breakthrough we are.

“It’s frustrating we don’t have the evidence to prosecute someone, but a reward is a strategy to further this investigation.”

Crimestoppers: 1800 333 000