A case of racial segregation in an Alice Springs hotel has highlighted gaps in the Northern Territory's anti-discrimination laws, 18 months after the Government promised an urgent overhaul.

Key points: Northern Territory law prevents whistleblowers from flagging discrimination on someone's behalf

Northern Territory law prevents whistleblowers from flagging discrimination on someone's behalf The anti-discrimination commissioner says "representative complaints" could make a difference

The anti-discrimination commissioner says "representative complaints" could make a difference The laws have been under review in the NT since 2017

The fallout is continuing after an investigation by the ABC's Background Briefing program uncovered discrimination against Indigenous guests at the Ibis Styles hotel in Alice Springs.

Staff members will undergo anti-discrimination training in the coming days, according to hotel operator Accor.

The chain also said it had put "interim management" in place at the Ibis and started an internal investigation.

One staff member knew there was a problem, but the whistleblower who spoke to the ABC was unable to lodge a formal complaint with the Northern Territory's Anti-Discrimination Commission.

Commissioner Sally Sievers said the current act prevented anyone but the victim of the discrimination from making a formal complaint, which could put off people who may not have the time, resources, language skills or confidence to navigate the process.

She said a change to allow complaints on someone's behalf was being considered as part of a review that the Government announced in 2017.

Podcast Background Briefing The Black and White hotel A big name hotel has been racially segregating guests, and our undercover recordings captured it. Would you pay $129 for a room with dirty sheets, chicken bones and broken glass on the floor? About

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"The process which currently exists under our legislation means individual people have to complain," she said.

"We are actually suggesting a change to the legislation, which is around a representative complaint so that peak organisations can make a complaint on behalf of people who are being discriminated against."

Aboriginal health and legal organisations wrote submissions to the Government's review supporting the creation of a "representative complaints" mechanism, including Central Australian Aboriginal Congress.

Congress chief executive Donna Ah Chee said the measure would help people who were "simply unable to speak up" because of layers of disadvantage.

Legal aid group NAAJA said representative complaints could be used when multiple people were affected by systemic discrimination, citing examples such as racist comments on Alice Springs Facebook groups or experiences with police stationed outside bottle shops.

Racism stories like 'an informal Green Book'

The hotel segregation was reported weeks after it was revealed staff at a Darwin bar were told that no "blacks" should be allowed in.

Staff members at Darwin's Rorkes Bar showed the ABC texts from their boss. ( Supplied )

The stories served as "an informal Green Book", said Andrea Mason, from the NPY Women's Council, referencing the recent film about African Americans navigating racism at stores and services in the 1960s.

Ms Mason said the council heard from their members about experiences with accommodation in Alice Springs, and also worked with businesses if there were any complaints about rooms booked under its name.

"What was probably more of a raised eyebrow for me was the fact that it was a poorer service of housekeeping for the rooms for community," she said.

"It wasn't the same, equal service of housekeeping for all rooms.

"That really upset me, because they were paying the same amount."

Donna Ah Chee said discrimination had "huge and lasting impacts on health and wellbeing".

She said she wanted to know what was happening with the Government's reforms to the Anti-Discrimination Act.

The Alice Springs Ibis Styles Hotel is popular with travellers because it is near the hospital. ( ABC: Hamish Harty )

A spokesperson for Northern Territory Attorney-General Natasha Fyles confirmed the review was ongoing.

It commenced in September 2017 with a discussion paper describing an "urgent need for modernisation".

Legislation only part of the solution: commissioner

Ms Sievers said changes to the law could make it easier to complain, but that still left the onus for addressing discrimination with its victims.

"Anti-discrimination legislation is just one part of the jigsaw. Really we've got to ask, how could this still be happening in 2019?" she said.

"How can we have businesses that think this is OK when clearly there's been race discrimination laws and anti-discrimination laws for 25 years?"

Peak body Tourism Central Australia said it was working with the commission to educate businesses about their obligations under the act.

Chief executive Steve Schwer said he had been "disappointed and saddened" by the revelations.

"Those kind of allegations are not something that you ever want to associate with your destination," he said.

"I would hope that now that this has been exposed, this alleged behaviour, that people will look internally in their own business, in their own day-to-day behaviour and understand why this type of behaviour is wrong and what they can do to change that."