00:00The Northern Territory's Aboriginal Community Police officers are a crucial liaison in the
00:08jurisdiction with Australia's highest First Nations incarceration rates, but the lawyers
00:13for three serving officers allege they've experienced racial vilification and unequal
00:18pay due to systemic racism.
00:21Most of them joined the police force so that they could help their community and were put
00:26in positions where they were either subject to racism themselves or saw racism being dealt
00:35out to members of the community.
00:37The three complainants, representing a broader group of around 20 current and former officers,
00:43have filed a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission.
00:47Last month, Police Commissioner Michael Murphy apologised at Garma Festival for historical
00:51injustices perpetrated by the force.
00:55Nothing doesn't achieve what needs to happen here.
00:58The apology followed months of scrutiny sparked by allegations members handed out racist awards.
01:04The Commissioner says while he can't comment specifically on the complaint, it's positive
01:08members feel confident to speak up about issues like racism.
01:13And the force has brought in senior Arranda lawyer Leanne Little to spearhead cultural
01:17reform.
01:18The complaint also targets the Territory Government, but the new Chief Minister says the allegations
01:23are historic and she's focused on the future.
01:27The previous Territory Government tasked the local Anti-Discrimination Commissioner with
01:31reviewing police systems to deal with racism.
01:34A review he says could have canvassed issues like those raised to the federal watchdog.
01:39But when asked by the ABC, the new Chief Minister Leah Finocchiaro wouldn't commit to funding
01:44the review.
01:45If the officers' complaint can't be resolved through mediation, the next step is the federal
01:50court.
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