Auslan Interpreters

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (14:38): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question on the topic of Auslan interpreters to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: Throughout most of the pandemic we have had the fantastic addition of Auslan interpreters at government press conferences on COVID updates and announcements. However, in recent months we have seen a decline of Auslan interpreters at those press conferences; sometimes they are present and sometimes they are not, but the reality of the pandemic and the need for all members of the public to be informed continues. That has not changed. My question to the minister is: why aren't Auslan interpreters at each and every government press conference on COVID anymore?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:39): I will certainly make inquiries on behalf of the honourable member. Certainly, there are Auslan interpreters at government press conferences in relation to COVID often, but, as the honourable member says, they have not been at every press conference. I will raise it with SA Health comms to try to gather the criteria on which a decision is made as to whether an Auslan interpreter is needed for a particular press conference.