Source : Perth Now news
Aboriginal community police officers have filed a class action against a territory government alleging racial discrimination, saying they have been ignored for too long.
Officer Shawn Lewfatt said they took no joy in suing the Northern Territory government but believed it was their last option to get justice.
Lawyers for current and former Aboriginal officers have filed the Federal Court class action alleging racial discrimination and vilification spanning decades.
The firm Gordon Legal also alleges community officers were frequently required to perform the work of constables while receiving significantly lower pay and fewer workplace entitlements.
Lawyer Seb O’Meara said the proceedings aimed to secure an apology and compensation for Aboriginal community police officers who were racially vilified and discriminated against over the years.
The Melbourne based law firm is acting for three NT officers, including Mr Lewfatt but Mr O’Meara told AAP the class action could cover about 300 former and current officers going back to 1998.
Mr Lewfatt, a community police officer since 1998 who is on sick leave, said he had endured racist remarks and name-calling year after year.
He also witnessed non-Indigenous officers illegally assaulting Aboriginal people and treating them more harshly than non-Indigenous people.
The constant racism had taken a personal toll on him and he had avoided becoming a regular officer out of fear he would be more exposed to it, Mr Lewfatt told AAP on Wednesday.
Community officers had tried to bring about change internally but got nowhere, so a class action was considered.
“There’s no joy in it, it’s quite stressful, but because we’ve been ignored for so long it’s the last option we have to get justice,” Mr Lewfatt said.
Following an Aboriginal death in custody inquest NT Coroner Elisabeth Armitage found in 2025 there was “clear evidence of entrenched, systemic and structural racism within the NT Police”.
That prompted NT Police to release an anti-racism strategy including commitments to provide anti-racism training for all employees.
But Mr Lewfatt said he was hearing there had not really been any change and the force was just putting on a public show that it was doing something.
The class action claim was being made under the Racial Discrimination Act, Mr O’Meara said.
“Our clients allege they were the victims of racist language and hate speech over almost three decades directed towards them and others in their presence,” he said.
“No one should be disadvantaged or targeted because of their race.
“Our clients have dedicated themselves to serving their communities, and they deserve the same level of respect and treatment as every other member of the Northern Territory Police Force.”
The class action follows the filing of a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission in 2024 but that was terminated in May 2026 after the parties failed to reach a resolution.
