Legislative Council Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1) 54 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Australian Sign Language Interpreters Australian Sign Language Interpreters The Hon. J.E. HANSON Legislative Council Australian Sign Language Interpreters The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:10): Supplementary question arising from the answer: given all the evidence provided, can the minister actually commit to continuing these important services at community events to enable deaf South Australians to continue to participate in them, and from when? The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK Legislative Council Minister for Human Services Australian Sign Language Interpreters The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (15:11): I am not sure that I completely understand what the honourable member is asking. Is he asking whether the previous block funding that was provided by DHS to organisations will continue after the implementation of the NDIS or whether he wants a guarantee that all community events will have an Auslan interpreter? The Hon. J.E. Hanson Legislative Council The Hon. J.E. Hanson: The second one. The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK Legislative Council The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: The second one. I don't know that I am in a position to guarantee that because, as I have said, we do have a shortage of Auslan interpreters in South Australia, it being a workforce issue. I have outlined some of the support that the state government is providing to assist with this matter. Certainly, there have been events that I have attended on numerous occasions where they do have Auslan interpreters. I would have thought that for such a significant event there would be sufficient interpreters available, but I don't think we can guarantee that for every event that is held anytime, anywhere and that would like to have an Auslan interpreter that there will be one available. I am certainly happy to see what other information we have about community events and bring that back to the chamber. The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hunter, a supplementary?