Celebrating the International Day of Sign Languages

In light of the International Day of Sign Languages, Abigail passed a motion affirming the invaluable role of Auslan and Deaf interpreters, and calling on the government to stand in solidarity with interpreters striking for fair pay and conditions across the country.

Abigail said:

I move:

(1) That this House notes that:

Monday 23 September was the International Day of Sign Languages, a day to celebrate the diversity of sign languages used around the world and recognise the importance of interpreter workforces in facilitating access and inclusion of Deaf and hard of hearing people within broader society. Sign languages aren’t universal, but all sign languages help build a more inclusive world,
for 12 months, on behalf of Auslan interpreters, Professionals Australia has been engaged in enterprise bargaining negotiations with Concentrix, a highly profitable US-based conglomerate which employs Auslan interpreters under the Australian Government’s National Relay Service (NRS). This month, union members have voted to carry out industrial action from Thursday 26 September demanding fair pay and conditions for Auslan interpreters, after Concentrix refused to guarantee any pay increase during the 12 months of negotiations,
Auslan and Deaf interpreters are highly skilled and dedicated workers proficient in both Auslan and English, with a rich understanding and expertise of different Auslan registers. These workers provide critical communication access to people whose primary language is Auslan, and play an essential role in giving Deaf individuals a sense of empowerment, access and inclusion. Despite this, the work of Auslan interpreters is categorically devalued and underappreciated, with the workforce largely categorised by insecure work, low pay and poor working conditions,
there is a concerning lack of accredited Auslan interpreters to meet increasing demand, with insufficient investment in education pathways to develop a sustainable workforce, and
the Disability Royal Commission called on the Australian government and state and territory governments to increase the number and quality of Auslan interpreters, which was responded to by Labor governments as “accepted in principle”.

(2) That this House recognises and affirms the invaluable role that Auslan and Deaf interpreters play in creating an accessible and inclusive society for all.

(3) That this House calls on the NSW Government to stand in solidarity with Auslan interpreters striking for fair pay and conditions, and commit to working in partnership with the Deaf community to strengthen NSW’s interpreter workforce, improve access to services and increase awareness of Auslan.

Read the transcript in Hansard here.

15 October 2024

A UNIVERSAL WELLBEING PAYMENT FOR NSW

No matter who you are or what you do, everyone has the right to share in the wellbeing of our country.

But at the moment the essentials so many of us need – a place to call home, food on the table, and everyday essentials like electricity, internet, medicine and water – are simply out of reach.

Instead of supporting us, our government is choosing to prop up huge corporations with massive subsidies, and to give away our collective wealth through record tax cuts for the wealthy. Meanwhile, the rest of us are left to live paycheck to paycheck or trapped in the dehumanising bureaucracy of our existing welfare system.

Now, in the midst of a pandemic, and following quickly on the heels of the bushfire crisis, more of us than ever before are experiencing what it’s like to lose our jobs, be without a home, or worry about where the food for our next meal will come from.

It’s time for us to choose to prioritise the wellbeing of everyone.

And that’s exactly what the Universal Wellbeing Payment will do.

It’s a regular payment made to each of us to ensure our minimum standard of wellbeing. No means testing, no bureaucracy, no strings attached.

It’s the amount you’re owed simply for being a participant in our society.

It means you are free to live your life and contribute to society as you see fit, whether you’re a carer, an artist, a student, a parent, an entrepreneur – you can get on with what you need to do, knowing that you will always be supported regardless of your income.

It means that we’re choosing to structure our economy for the benefit of all of us, not using our collective wealth to prop up the interests of big business and the wealthy few.

It means you will always have what you need to live a good life, no matter what.

The Universal Wellbeing Payment is for everyone. Help us make it happen.

For more information, head to universalwellbeingpayment.com.au

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Celebrating the International Day of Sign Languages

A UNIVERSAL WELLBEING PAYMENT FOR NSW

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