Wild moment parent erupts at local pool for kicking out ‘every Aboriginal visitor’ as tense footage emerges of cops at the scene – as management is forced to clear the air

A local swimming pool has come under fire over claims it kicked out ‘every Aboriginal visitor’ because of a couple of children misbehaving in the water.

An outraged parent shared footage of Aboriginal children standing on the side of a pool while police officers spoke to a lifeguard at Inverell Aquatic Centre, in northern NSW, on Sunday.

‘We were going to the pool to drop money off for (my) son to get a feed,’ they said on Facebook.

‘We then saw [the police] talking to a couple of parents so we went to see what was going on.

‘Apparently there were a couple of boys not listening and then they have just gone and kicked everyone out that was Aboriginal, adults included, and tried to justify by saying it was just for the day.’

In the footage, Aboriginal children were seen standing in groups and holding their towels at the entrance to the pool.

Belgravia Leisure, an organisation that co-manages the centre with Inverell Shire Council, said the video was inaccurate.

A spokesman said officers were called ‘in response to a group of youths who refused to cease anti-social behaviour, despite multiple requests from team members’.

‘These youths were escorted from the premises by police,’ he said.

‘Whilst at the venue, police identified two other adult patrons also displaying anti-social behaviour. Both adults were also escorted from the premises.

‘We want to be clear that at no stage were any patrons asked to leave unless they were directly involved in anti-social behaviour. 

‘We are concerned about the inaccuracies in a live video posted on social media, which falsely suggests otherwise.’

The organisation said it has a ‘zero-tolerance policy for anti-social, discriminatory, or abusive behaviour’ and it is committed to inclusivity. 

NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia officers arrived and heard from a manager who identified a group of 20 people, including adults and children who were being unsafe, not following instructions, and rude to staff. 

‘They had been asked to leave, however, were refusing,’ a statement said.

‘Police spoke to the group who continued to be hostile, yelling and filming officers.’ 

The group was issued a move on direction which was followed and they were escorted from Inverell Aquatic Centre.

The facility said it was cooperating with the police investigation. 

Inverell mayor Kate Dight said the council was aware of an ‘incident’.

‘Management sought the assistance of NSW Police in dealing with the incident,’ she said.

‘Council supports the actions of the Centre Manager in ensuring the safety of users and staff.

Inverell locals were divided over the incident, with some from the scene claiming children were not following the rules while others slammed the ‘degrading’ behaviour of police and pool staff.

‘That’s disgusting. All their little faces look so confused,’ a person wrote. 

Another said: ‘Disgraceful. Shame on you Inverell pool staff and Inverell Shire Council.’

‘It’s not about the pulling the ‘racist card’, it’s straight up discrimination,’ a third added.

Meanwhile, a local from the pool said: ‘I have witnessed these kids all continuously not follow the rules!!

‘How many warnings does it take for anyone to follow the rules.’

The multimillion-dollar aquatic centre opened in February, after construction began at the pool in November 2023.

It has a 20m indoor pool, a 50m outdoor pool, an indoor splash park and toddler pool.