First Nations families in Inverell have lodged a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission after alleging they were racially profiled and removed from the Inverell Aquatic Centre by police in March 2025. The complaint alleges breaches of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 and has renewed calls for culturally safe public spaces in regional New South Wales.
The families, represented by the National Justice Project, say pool staff called police after alleging some children were not complying with the rules. They say no warning was given to parents or carers before officers arrived and told families they could be arrested for trespass if they did not leave.
13 complainants are part of the complaint and that pool management claimed at the time police were called in response to “antisocial behaviour”. Families argue the response escalated too quickly and that Aboriginal patrons were treated as a group rather than as individuals.
The 2025 incident came to wider attention after footage was shared online. Local parent Thomas Davis said: “Long story short, there were a few kids messing up and wouldn’t behave, and pretty much everyone got told to go,” describing the experience as confusing and frightening for children.
Davis said the fallout has lasted well beyond the day itself, saying, “But we don’t do that after the incident. We haven’t been back.” Advocacy groups, including Amnesty International Australia, previously called for the state government to investigate the incident and any discriminatory conduct by police or contractors.
The Australian Human Rights Commission can investigate complaints and attempt conciliation between parties. The families say they want accountability and practical change to prevent similar incidents, including clearer protocols for staff engagement with families and training to reduce racial profiling and bias in public facilities.
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