Aboriginal Police Officers Sue NT Authorities Over Racial Abuse and Underpayment

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Class action claims Indigenous staff were called slurs, exposed to racist language and paid less for doing the same work

Warning: This article contains racist and offensive language directed at First Nations people

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Aboriginal community police officers are suing the Northern Territory government and the NT police force alleging systemic discrimination and underpayment, the widespread use of racist slurs against Indigenous colleagues and community members, and abuse spanning nearly three decades.

The class action, on behalf of Aboriginal community police officers (Acpos or Apos) who worked in the NT between 1998 and 2025, is led Shawn Lewfatt, a Darwin man who has served as an Acpo since 1998. He said decades on the job had left him dreading putting on his uniform.

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