Aboriginal community police officers sue NT authorities over alleged racial abuse and discrimination

Aboriginal community police officers in the Northern Territory have launched a class action lawsuit against NT government and police authorities, alleging systemic discrimination, racial abuse, and underpayment spanning nearly three decades. The case, led by Darwin-based officer Shawn Lewfatt, represents Indigenous staff who experienced racist slurs, discriminatory language, and unequal pay despite performing identical work to non-Indigenous colleagues. The lawsuit covers approximately 27 years of employment from 1998 to 2025.