Page 200 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 12 February 2020
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NAATI enables the supply of appropriately credentialed translators and interpreters who are responsive to the changing needs and demography of the Australian community. Furthermore, NAATI provides detailed advice and support to people on translator and interpreter certification requirements, as well as information on ACT institutions with endorsed qualifications.
I support Minister Gentleman’s call for the federal government to address the lack of Auslan interpreters and to provide additional funding to increase the number of interpreters here in the ACT and across the country. The most recent bushfire season has shown us the importance of effective communication during emergencies. It is crucial that the federal government invest in strengthening the capacity to deliver Auslan-supported programs to ensure these services are more readily available, and this will ensure that states and territories are positioned to deliver fundamental supports to the members of our community who need it most.
In addition to working on increasing the number of Auslan interpreters, the ACT government recognises that people who speak a language other than English also require interpreters across all government communications. Through the eighth parliamentary agreement, which Ms Le Couteur has made reference to, the government delivered on our commitment to increase the number of interpreters. This was actioned under the ACT Multicultural Framework 2015–2020 First Action Plan (2015–2018) Report, which called for the ACT to identify people who are willing to undertake accreditation as formal interpreters to build a large pool of local interpreters.
As outlined by Minister Gentlemen, the ESA had a strong focus on delivering information in the most accessible way possible throughout the most recent state of alerts and state of emergency. This is a characteristic of the culture embedded in the work carried out by the ESA, which in fact received an ACT Inclusion award in 2019 for its ongoing support to people who are deaf in the community and its commitment to ensure that at least one SES troop was learning Auslan.
As a government we will continue to work with people with disability and their advocates to ensure all our services are accessible and inclusive. I commend Minister Gentleman’s amendment to the motion and thank everyone for bringing forward this topic today.
MS LAWDER (Brindabella) (4.50), by leave: I move amendments to Ms Le Couteur’s amendment to Mr Gentleman’s amendment:
1. In paragraph (4)(c), after “report”, insert “back to the Assembly”.
2. In paragraph (4)(c), after “by June 2020”, add “and present the Government’s communication protocols or policies/procedures”.
I would like to thank all the speakers today for their general support of the importance of providing communication access for people who are deaf. Back in March 2015, that is, just about five years ago, I asked the minister for education, I think, in questions without notice on 19 March 2015:
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