Lawyers for current and former Aboriginal officers have filed the Federal Court class action alleging racial discrimination and vilification spanning decades. The firm Gordon Legal also alleges community officers were frequently required to perform the work of constables while receiving significantly lower pay and fewer workplace entitlements. Community officers had tried to bring about change internally but got nowhere, so a class action was considered. "There's no joy in it, it's quite stressful, but because we've been ignored for so long it's the last option we have to get justice," Mr Lewfatt said. The class action claim was being made under the Racial Discrimination Act, Mr O'Meara said.