The Victorian Greens say that the rates of racial profiling revealed in a new report are shameful and lay bare systemic racism and discrimination.
The Victorian Greens say that despite a ban on racial profiling since 2015, the latest search data shows it remains widespread - and the Allan Labor Government should be ashamed.
Instead of urgently establishing the independent police oversight we need, the Allan Labor Government continues to expand unchecked powers for police - which the Greens warn will only cause these already shocking rates to rise.
New research from the Centre Against Racial Profiling, based on data obtained under FOI from Victoria Police, reveals that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were 15 times more likely to be searched than white people in 2024, despite being less likely to be found with prohibited items. They were also 10 times more likely to have force or the threat of force used against them, and 13 times more likely to have tasers drawn on them.
African, Middle Eastern and Pacific Islander communities were also disproportionately targeted, with African community members eight times more likely to be searched, seven times more likely to be subjected to force, and 24 times more likely to be pursued by police vehicles.
As stated by the Victorian Greens spokesperson for Anti-Racism and Multiculturalism:
"These rates are shocking, but not surprising to any of these targeted communities including my own Pacific Island communities who live this reality every day.
"We know that Aboriginal, African, Middle Eastern and Pacific Islander communities have borne discriminatory policing practices for a long time. Without work like this report, we'd have no idea of the scale of the problem and the widespread harms inflicted on these communities.
"Racial profiling doesn't just discriminate, it creates a racially stratified community. It is shameful that Labor continues to expand unchecked police powers that will make this worse, when we should be tackling systemic racism in policing, investing in community-led safety, and finally establishing an independent police ombudsman."
