A Stain on the Badge: The Questionable Nexus Between Australia's

The Australian police forces and their affiliated organisations, including unions, have come under scrutiny for harboring Anti-Indigenous sentiment, reflecting a narrative deeply rooted in historical discrimination and a legacy of enforcing genocidal policies.

And the history of police involvement in Indigenous affairs is tainted with many instances of systemic racism and enforcement of genocidal government policies.

This, unfortunately, has not remained in the past but continues to echo in the present.

And the recent remarks by union representatives and certain police officials on Indigenous policies not only reflect a blatant lack of understanding but also expose a stark bias, which isn’t merely an issue of misguided comments; it’s about the insidious ideology that underpins them, an ideology that has historically oppressed Indigenous communities.

Queensland Police Union boss Ian Leavers has demanded plans for truth and treaty be ripped up, saying it would lead to a “free pass” on crime for First Nations people #qldpol https://t.co/gYRkxNBjNm pic.twitter.com/IFd5bpl1Wm

— The Courier-Mail (@couriermail) October 24, 2023

The parallels between this situation and some of history’s darkest periods are too glaring to ignore.

Would the world ever allow Nazis to dictate the welfare policies for Jews?

The very idea is not just absurd but grotesquely offensive.

So, why should a police force with a record of Anti-Indigenous sentiment be allowed a seat at the table when discussing Indigenous self-determination?

The argument isn’t about silencing dissent or differing opinions; it’s about who gets to have a say in matters of Indigenous welfare and autonomy… and about ensuring that those involved in these discussions come with empathy, understanding, and most importantly, an absence of prejudice.

The police force’s primary duty is to uphold the law and ensure the safety and security of all citizens, regardless of their racial or ethnic backgrounds. However, when segments of this force exhibit a pattern of discrimination, their moral and ethical standing becomes severely compromised.

And the discrimination against Indigenous populations extends far beyond the borders of Australia, finding echo in the experiences of Indigenous communities in both Canada and the United States. With systemic discrimination ingrained within various institutions, notably the police, reflects a broader societal narrative that remains deeply entwined with historical injustices.

Moreover, the resemblance is uncanny, and yet, the world watches, often in silence, as these institutions partake in dialogues about the very communities they are accused of oppressing while justifying their discrimination and racism as a force for good and justified because the “savages” need to be tamed.

Mackay, R. E., & Feagin, J. (2022). “Merciless Indian Savages”: Deconstructing Anti-Indigenous Framing. Sociology of Race and Ethnicity, 8(4), 518-533. https://doi.org/10.1177/23326492221112040

But why is this problematic?

This historical narrative has contributed to systemic racism and ongoing discrimination against Indigenous people worldwide, and is a stark reminder of the harmful impacts of dehumanising language and the need to challenge and rectify historical injustices to move towards a more inclusive and respectful understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures and histories.

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
George Santayana

The historical records are stained with many instances where the police have acted as the agents of oppressive governmental policies against Indigenous communities.

So can those implicated in the historical oppression of a community truly advocate for its welfare unbiasedly?