Aboriginal Language Interpreters and Translators

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:15): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation on the topic of Indigenous language interpreter shortages.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: As members would no doubt be aware, and I'm sure the minister is, it has been reported recently in the media that some Aboriginal people are being kept in custody for longer than required because of a lack of interpreters in South Australia and that legal groups, including the ALRM, have stated that there has been a significant rise specifically of Anangu Pitjantjatjara men and women entering the prison system in recent years. Ms Axelby has stated that we are also seeing an increase of children being removed and parents not being supported with interpreters through the investigation and assessment phase.

As Tony Rossi of the Law Society has stated, you cannot have justice without the person understanding what is going on. That is why Indigenous interpreter services have been highlighted in recommendations by the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, the Mullighan Children on Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands Commission of Inquiry, the Justice Nyland Child Protection Systems Royal Commission and, indeed, repeated calls from the sector in general.

Noting that, in 2014, the governance of policy framework of the South Australian policy framework of Aboriginal languages interpreters and translators states that Aboriginal affairs and reconciliation will have oversight of the policy framework and that implementation issues and progress reporting will be tabled for discussion at the senior officers group on Aboriginal affairs, which in turn will escalate significant issues to the chief executive's group on Aboriginal affairs as necessary, can the minister indicate whether Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, or any other government departmental bodies, have tabled any implementation issues for discussion at these levels in the past 12 months? If so, what action has been taken? Can the minister also inform us of any other action that has been taken?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (15:17): I thank the honourable member for her question and her interest in these areas. I note that there have been recent reports. Some of the difficulties faced by people gaining interpreters are to do with the availability of interpreters, but there are also cultural reasons that do make it difficult and add complexity to finding interpreters. I'm not going to go into particular cases but there are complexities that don't only relate to the number of interpreters available, but that certainly is a legitimate concern to be raising.

In terms of what has been tabled at a senior officers group, I'm not sure but I will take that away and check what has been tabled. I do know that there are efforts underway, particularly with the state government working with the commonwealth and the Northern Territory government on interpreter services, particularly in the Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara languages that span both the NT, SA and also some of WA. I know that there is work that is being done specifically with the Northern Territory government to train and attract more interpreters and also programs that are being delivered for public sector people facilitating training with staff that work in the sorts of areas that the honourable member has mentioned.

I know, also, that in various areas of government, whether they be corrections or justice or through the Courts Administration Authority, those areas use interpreters on, generally, a fee-for-service basis when it is needed, but attracting enough people who are able to provide those services is an ongoing challenge and it is one that, as I said, we are working with the commonwealth and the Northern Territory on. In terms of specific reports, I am happy to bring back an answer to that.