URGENT UPDATE: A First Nations woman, Janice Edwards, has secured the right to pursue a racial discrimination lawsuit against Coles following a humiliating security check incident at a supermarket in Dubbo, New South Wales. The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal ruled in favor of Ms. Edwards after she reported feeling “derogatory and humiliating” treatment during a routine self-scanning checkout process in March 2024.
The incident occurred when Ms. Edwards encountered an error at the checkout and requested assistance from a staff member. Instead of resolving the issue, the employee displayed Ms. Edwards’ image and video footage of her scanning groceries on a screen, raising suspicions of theft. The tribunal’s senior member, Jill Gatland, highlighted that the staff’s actions left Ms. Edwards feeling “humiliated and embarrassed,” and noted, “There was, of course, no theft or attempt at theft by Ms. Edwards.”
Ms. Edwards testified that she was familiar with the self-scanning technology and believed the security check was conducted in a discriminatory manner due to her race. She stated, “I was treated unfairly in a manner that a non-Indigenous person would not have been treated.” This sentiment was echoed in the tribunal’s findings, which emphasized that Ms. Edwards’ experience was markedly different from that of other customers.
The tribunal granted Ms. Edwards permission to proceed with her complaint against Coles after she challenged the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board decision to cease their investigation. The ruling indicates that Ms. Edwards’ ability to complete her shopping hinged on undergoing the security check, which will be a pivotal element in the upcoming hearings. Gatland noted, “I consider that Ms. Edwards may be able to satisfy the tribunal at a final hearing that the terms on which she was allowed to make purchases from Coles were different because of her race.”
Coles has not provided any evidence to suggest that Ms. Edwards was attempting to steal, with Gatland stating, “there is no evidence whatsoever that Ms. Edwards is anything other than an upstanding senior member of the community in Dubbo.” A customer service manager from Coles acknowledged that the cameras at the self-scan checkouts can be overly sensitive and assured that staff are trained to “never blame the customer.”
The case has generated significant attention, raising critical questions about racial discrimination in retail environments. As the legal proceedings continue, the community watches closely to see how Coles will respond and what implications this case may have on policies regarding customer treatment.
The tribunal has scheduled further directions for the case, ensuring that this important issue remains in the spotlight. Ms. Edwards’ experience sheds light on broader concerns about systemic discrimination and the treatment of Indigenous Australians in everyday situations.
Stay tuned for more updates as this developing story unfolds.
