Legislative Council Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2) 51 2 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Answers to Questions Answers to Questions Aboriginal Interpreters ABORIGINAL INTERPRETERS The Hon. R.D. LAWSON Legislative Council ABORIGINAL INTERPRETERS In reply to the Hon. R.D. LAWSON (25 September 2007). The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY Legislative Council Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning ABORIGINAL INTERPRETERS The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning): The Attorney-General has provided the following information: There are currently eight active interpreters of Aboriginal languages employed casually by the Interpreting and Translating Centre. In the period 1 July to 30 September 2007, the Interpreting and Translating Centre received requests for 161 assignments in Aboriginal languages. On a 12-month projection there is an interpreter for every 81 assignments. This is a most favourable ratio when compared with other languages. For example, in the period May 2006 to April 2007, the Interpreting and Translating Centre received 5827 requests for assignments in Vietnamese. Twenty-two interpreters were employed to deliver these assignments; a ratio of 1:265. The ratio for Italian was 1:201 and for Greek was 1:162. From these figures it appears that there are enough interpreters. However, there may be occasions when interpreters are not available. The Courts Administration Authority, Multicultural SA and the Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Division are working to determine the best approach to ensure that interpreters are available when required by the Courts.