前埃森顿AFL球员Shawn Lewfatt等土著警官已向联邦法院提起集体诉讼，指控北领地警察局存在种族歧视、薪资不公和职业升迁机会不足的系统性问题[1]。该诉讼于2024年7月17日正式提交[1]，涉及近30年来土著社区警官遭受的不公正待遇[1]。首次听证会将于8月19日举行[1]。
Lewfatt在诉讼中表示，他会"永远不会鼓励"自己的成年孩子加入北领地警察局[1]。2024年9月，Lewfatt和至少20名土著警官曾向澳大利亚人权委员会提出投诉[1]。该投诉在人权委员会调解至今年5月后未能得到解决[1]。
北领地警察局近期采取了若干改革举措。2024年7月，Arrernte女性Leanne Liddle被任命为北领地警察文化改革执行主任[1]；同年8月，前北领地警察专员Michael Murphy向第一民族人民为150年的伤害道歉[1]。
A class action lawsuit has been filed against the Northern Territory Police Force by Aboriginal officers, including former Essendon AFL player Shawn Lewfatt, claiming systematic racial discrimination, harassment, and unfair treatment spanning nearly three decades [1]. The legal action, submitted to Federal Court on July 17, 2024, challenges inadequate compensation for Aboriginal community police officers, limited career advancement opportunities, and an entrenched culture of racial prejudice within the organization [1].
Lewfatt has stated he would "never encourage" his adult children to join the Northern Territory Police Force, underscoring the severity of his grievances [1]. His complaint, alongside those of at least 20 other Aboriginal officers, was initially lodged with the Australian Human Rights Commission in September 2024, but mediation efforts proved unsuccessful through May of this year [1]. The Federal Court is scheduled to conduct its first hearing on August 19 [1].
Recent developments within the police force include the July 2024 appointment of Arrernte woman Leanne Liddle as executive director for cultural reform [1], and an apology issued by former Northern Territory Police Commissioner Michael Murphy in August 2024 to First Nations peoples for 150 years of harm [1].