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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2017-05-16 Daily Xml
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Aboriginal Language Interpreters and Translators

The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:22): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation a question about Indigenous interpreters.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: It was reported through ABC News that some Aboriginal people are being kept in custody for longer than required because of a lack of interpreters in South Australia. Cheryl Axelby from the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement stated that a lack of interpreters was delaying imprisoned inmates from possibly leaving. Ms Axelby confirmed that APY people are being held in custody because the system itself is failing. She said, 'We are concerned that the system is at breaking point.'

Even Tony Rossi from the South Australian Law Society said a lack of Aboriginal interpreters needed to be addressed. Mr Rossi stated, 'You cannot have justice without the person understanding what is going on.' Aboriginal interpreter Rose Lester stated that, along with the shockingly high incarceration rate, more funding for interpreters was vital. Ms Lester stated that it is an industry in which Aboriginal people can get employment and build a career. My questions to the minister are:

1. What strategies have been put in place to inject more funding into expanding the services of Aboriginal interpreters?

2. With the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement concerned that the system is failing, how does the minister intend to rebuild confidence and trust with one of the largest Indigenous movements in South Australia?

3. What future educational initiatives will the government introduce to ensure interested Aboriginal people are given an opportunity to build a career as an interpreter?

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) (15:24): I thank the honourable member for her explanation and her series of questions in relation to interpreters, particularly to do with the justice system, but it's not limited to the justice system where interpreters are important.

In the APY lands, for many of the couple of thousand people who live there, English is often not a first language and sometimes not even a second language with Pitjantjatjara and Yunkunjara speakers over on the eastern side of the APY lands. There are many people across the APY lands who have very limited and in some cases no English at all, so it is a problem for anyone who has difficulty with English. It's particularly acute for Anangu, who come from or reside in the APY lands.

As I said, it's not just in the justice system, although that's often where it is most acute. It's also the access to other services—a whole range of government services, but health services as well, where you need to explain to health professionals in order to receive treatment or to have your treatment procedures explained—that there is the ability for those who don't have English as a first language or as a second language or at all.

In relation to the justice system, it does manifest itself in a number of ways, whether it is preliminarily at the time of police discussing, interviewing or carrying out investigations, during court proceedings and also at the other end as well. If there is follow-up, whether it is through Community Corrections or other areas, there is a need for people to clearly understand what their interactions with the justice system are.

In terms of strategies, there is a cross-border strategy with the NPY region (the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara regions) across the very eastern part of WA, the north-western part of SA and the Northern Territory, where we, as a state government, and the other two jurisdictions are working with the federal government on interpreters. It's not just simply a matter of having more money to pay interpreters. That is part of it, but it's making sure that there are avenues for interpreters to be trained. So, that is one area in particular that South Australia, NT and WA are working with the federal government: to have more interpreters trained and available, particularly for areas where Anangu come in contact with the justice system.

We will continue to work with the federal government to make sure there is a pool of interpreters available for these areas. The honourable member also asked about the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement. I don't accept the premise, I think, of a whole lot of that question about there being a need for us in Aboriginal affairs to restore confidence and trust with the ALRM. I think that's a very fundamental misunderstanding of the relationship that we have with the ALRM. I have regular meetings with Cheryl Axelby and others from the ALRM, and I think we have a good and constructive working relationship.

There are certainly times and issues where we might not have exactly the same point of view, but to suggest that there has been some huge breakdown in confidence and trust—I would be interested to know where the honourable member gets that from, or if she has just made that up while asking her question. I would be very interested to hear how she comes to that conclusion, to put it into her question. I will continue to work with the ALRM constructively, as we have been doing.

I think the final part of the question looked at how this can provide jobs and careers for Anangu. As I have said, we work very constructively with the federal government to build up a pool of interpreters that not just benefits people who come into contact with health or other government services or the justice system, but can provide jobs for Anangu in remote areas.

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