Steve Georganas (Hindmarsh, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges the important and vital role played by professional interpreters and translators in Australia;

(2) notes that:

(a) Australia has been at the forefront of the provision of language services since the late 1970s, becoming one of the first countries in the world to mandate and subsidise the use of interpreters and translators for all people whose first language is not English when accessing public services; and

(b) the provision of regulated and accredited language services is fundamental to enabling people whose first language is not English to fully participate in society and Australia;

(3) notes and commends the professionalism and ethical behaviour of National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters accredited interpreters and translators, and the important contribution of their work to our country's social cohesion; and

(4) acknowledges the importance of supporting the interpreting and translating industry and practitioners through appropriate training, professional development, regulation, recognition and remuneration.

Interpreting and translating are one of the world's oldest professions, and it is a most essential profession. Anyone who has found themselves in difficulty in a country whose language they do not speak knows just how scary and confronting that is and how powerless that can make you feel. I feel it is particularly fitting that we are talking about this now, this being the week that we celebrate Refugee Week. This is an important chance to recognise also the amazing contribution that refugees make to this country.

A vital part in helping refugees and indeed all migrants feel welcome in this country is the help that they receive in navigating new systems, new rules and new services. Interpreters and translators play an important part in this. What is more, access to an interpreter to facilitate communication can literally make the difference between life and death. Just think about a patient in hospital who needs to understand essential instructions from a doctor or provide consent to treatment and about the devastating implications it can have if the instructions are misunderstood. I met a woman a few years back. She has passed away now. She was then in her early 90s. She came out to Australia from Greece at the age of 18 in the early 1900s. She had one daughter, and I remember saying to her in a conversation: 'Why one daughter? You didn't have a second child.' She said: 'Well, I had great difficulty giving birth with the first child. I had an operation and lots and lots of things, and I kept on trying. We kept on trying for a second child for many, many years, and it wasn't until I was in my late 30s, when I went to a doctor, that I was told that I'd had a hysterectomy in that operation back when I had my first child.' She had no idea because there were no interpreters. Her English language was non-existent. That is a really sad case.

These things used to happen regularly here in Australia, and we are very fortunate that we have a policy that ensures that anyone accessing government and legal services in this country whose first language is not English is guaranteed an interpreter free of charge. This is an excellent policy that should be supported. As I said, it has not always been the case—I have just described that very sad story—and it was not the case until the early seventies. Australia's policy of assimilation meant that, if you decided to come here, it was up to you to become an Australian and learn English, and translators were something that did not exist. That failed to take into account factors such as people having to work to make a living and having no time to learn English as well. My parents were in that situation. Their English was communication English and still is today.

See this speech in context