Greens motion calls for more AUSLAN interpreters

The shortage in the Auslan interpreter workforce needs to be addressed by this government.

While a recent NSW parliament inquiry recommended that parliamentary proceedings are translated by Auslan interpreters it also noted that there is more to be done to address the lack of highly qualified Ausland interpreters available.

There are lot of people in the Deaf community who are unable to access interpreters for hospital appointments, in schools, and in the police and justice system.

Abigail passed a motion in parliament to acknowledge the shortfall of qualified interpreters and call on the government to do more.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD (10:08): I seek leave to amend private members' business item No. 2132 outside the order of precedence for today of which I have given notice by omitting in paragraph (3) "to develop a strategy and implementation plan".

Leave granted.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: Accordingly, I move:

(1) That this House commends the Auslan interpreter workforce for their critical work.

(2) That this House notes that:

(a) the Legislative Council Procedure Committee Report No. 16 on Auslan interpretation for broadcasting documents long‑running concern in the Deaf community and amongst Deaf advocacy organisations that there is a significant shortage of Auslan interpreters, with the lack of availability of interpreters described by one witness as "one of the biggest problems [the Deaf community] have";

(b) there is a strong link between exposure to sign language interpretation and choosing it as a career, and so awareness is key to addressing workforce shortages; and

(2) That this House calls on the Minister for Disability Services and the Minister for Skills and Training to work with the Deaf community to address the Auslan interpretation workforce shortage.

Motion agreed to.

TAX SUPERPROFITS TO PAY WORKERS MORE

NSW is missing out on tens of billions of dollars. By introducing a progressive coal royalty structure similar to the one in Queensland, we would have raised an extra $20 billion last year.

The NSW Government owns and controls, on behalf of the people of this state, the rights to the minerals and materials that naturally occur in NSW land.

Huge fossil fuel companies are only able to extract and sell these commodities with the consent of the State. It’s time they paid a fair price for that privilege.

The fossil fuel industry has made hundreds of billions of dollars out of their cosy relationship with governments. Granted permission to extract and sell coal, these large multinational fossil fuel corporations pay just over 7% in royalties back to the people of NSW – keeping the rest as mega-profits for themselves. These companies have a track record of taking more than their fair share and leaving communities suffering and stranded with poisoned groundwater, devastated landscapes and a stranded workforce when it suits their business models.

Globally, the hyper-inflation of fossil fuel prices driven by price-gouging opportunism and war profiteering from Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has delivered record windfall profits to these already obscenely wealthy corporations. In the last year, NSW coal exports totaled over $70 billion dollars, but the people of NSW will only see about 7 cents in every dollar, or about $6 billion dollars of that amount.

Rather than going toward schools, hospitals and public infrastructure, billions of dollars went into the pockets of multinational mining corporations. The Greens believe there should be more money for schools and hospitals and less for mining billionaires.

Sign our petition calling on the NSW Labor Government to increase coal royalties to invest in communities.

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Greens motion calls for more AUSLAN interpreters

TAX SUPERPROFITS TO PAY WORKERS MORE

Sign our petition calling on the NSW Labor Government to increase coal royalties to invest in communities.

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