A group of current and former Aboriginal police officers in Australia's Northern Territory has initiated a class action lawsuit against the Territory government in the Federal Court. They claim to have endured decades of racial discrimination, abuse, and vilification while serving in the NT Police Force.

The officers allege they were subjected to offensive and derogatory language and received lower pay than their non-Indigenous colleagues for comparable work. This legal action follows an unsuccessful complaint filed by the Aboriginal community police officers (ACPOs) with the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) in September 2024. Earlier this year, the AHRC terminated the claim after the parties failed to reach a resolution, providing the officers 60 days to pursue legal action.

One of the three lead applicants, Shawn Lewfatt, a serving member of the NT Police Force in Darwin for nearly 30 years, described the lawsuit as a last resort. He said, "We tried to fight it internally for decades, but we had no voice." Mr. Lewfatt, who joined the police force in 1998, pursued a career in policing to positively impact his community but struggled with the culture within the force.

NT Police has faced intense scrutiny in recent years following allegations of racist behavior aired during the coronial inquest into the 2019 shooting death of Kumanjayi Walker.

Mr. Lewfatt expressed his desire for a "safer, fair work environment for Aboriginal employees" and emphasized the need for accountability. The case is scheduled to appear in court later this month, with lawyers seeking to advance the matter to a trial in 2027.

The officers are seeking compensation and an apology from NT Police for the harm they have suffered.

Sources