Aboriginal cop class action 'far from straightforward'

Racism claims by Aboriginal community police officers are far from straightforward, a federal court has been told.

More than 300 officers have joined a class action lawsuit filed against the Northern Territory government alleging racial discrimination, with many saying they have been ignored for too long.

Lawyers representing three lead applicants, including Shawn Lewfatt, a serving member of the NT Police Force for nearly three decades, appeared before the Federal Court on Monday.

The class action involved about 339 former and current officers going back to 1998, NT Police's barrister said.

"It will require consideration of more than 30 years of documentation ... we are dealing with hard copies as well as electronic.

"It is a very substantial task, on any view ... the process of obtaining documents is difficult and lengthy."

The officers allege that as Aboriginal Community Officers (ACOs) they were frequently required to perform the work of constables while receiving significantly lower pay and fewer workplace entitlements.

Mr Lewfatt, an ACO since 1998 who is on sick leave, says he 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 claim alleges various contraventions of the Racial Discrimination Act in respect of pay and conditions of ACOs, differential treatment they experienced in the workplace, and their exposure to an unsafe workplace," barrister Alexandra Folie SC told the court on Monday.

"The allegations are plainly serious and concern (to) matters and conduct over a long period of time, so any further unnecessary delays ought to be avoided."

The plaintiffs want an apology and compensation for those officers who were racially vilified and discriminated against.

The Federal Court lawsuit comes after internal discussions and a 2024 complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission failed to reach an agreement.