Ms SCRYMGOUR - 2001-11-29
This is a matter of great importance in my electorate and other bush electorates. Can the minister explain what has happened to this government’s priority to improving communications between Aboriginal people and the justice and health systems, particularly with regard to the Aboriginal Interpreter Service?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. Contrary to the shadow spokesman on Aboriginal affairs who, I was told, was talking this morning on the radio about this very topic. I want to, hopefully, put him straight. This government is committed to making real changes to the outcomes for Aboriginal Territorians. We understand that the key in achieving that is to actually communicate with Aboriginal people in their first language. The budget paper that you refer to ...
Mr Elferink: Is minus $24 000.
Mr AH KIT: Paper number 2 is a notional figure.
Mr Elferink: Oh, it’s notional. It is written in black and white. It is notional, is it?
Mr Dunham: What happened to transparency and honesty in budget?
Mr AH KIT: The shadow minister does not understand that what has happened here is that, because we inherited the $107m black hole, what we have been able to do was direct Treasury to come up with some figures where there could be some cuts made. That was up to the CEOs. So the notional figure that you see there, and what you are referring to, is $24 000 being notionally suggested to the acting CEO, Graham Symons. Graham Symons sat down with the management committee of my new department and has quarantined the Aboriginal Interpreter Service. I could have passed this all on to the shadow minister had he sought a briefing but he wants to play politics with it, and obviously we are politicians. I will straighten him up on this one but, hopefully, if he wants to, I am available for any members opposite if they wish to come and seek a briefing on any matters of concern in regards to my portfolio areas.
This government has provided the chief executive officers with a budget, and given them the responsibility for managing budgets in the way that the previous government did not. This Martin government’s priority on the Aboriginal Interpreter Service is well understood by the Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs.
There will not be a cut, as I said, to the Aboriginal Interpreter Service. The Aboriginal Interpreter Service is quarantined from mini-budget cuts. Quite the opposite ...
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: Just save your ‘hear, hear’ till you hear me out and then you can clap for me, thank you.
Quite the opposite is going to happen, in fact. The Aboriginal Interpreter Service is going to immediately benefit from two additional staff; one in the Darwin office and one in Alice Springs. The department has already identified a vehicle for the Alice Springs office; that represents an increase per annum of $120 000. Indeed, I understand that an officer has commenced in the Darwin office - that is this week - and we are looking to recruit a skilled officer for Alice Springs within the next couple of weeks.
There is certainly going to be no diminution of the important work of the Aboriginal Interpreter Service. The people running the Aboriginal Interpreter Service will be supported as strongly as the migrant services around Australia were supported when they commenced their operations over 20 years ago, in some instance. This government will ensure that this service is utilised by those public servants who deal with non-English speaking Aboriginal people. There is a commitment to making their job for those who deliver the service easier, relieving the heavy workload so that all Territorians benefit long-term.
Around 80% of Aboriginal people living in remote communities in the Northern Territory speak an Aboriginal language before English. Many do not speak English at all. The consequences, in terms of the so-called antisocial behaviour, over-representation in the criminal justice system, poor health outcomes, have had high costs borne out by this government. Justice and health outcomes can be more successfully addressed if both parties actually understand each other.
To give an example, I said in the euthanasia debate, some five years ago, about the concerns Aboriginal people had in the bush when they spoke to me - especially the elderly people - about having to come into town and to go into hospital. There was no interpreter service and they did not know what sort of diagnosis was going to be made of them. They did not know what sort of treatment they were going to get, and they had fears that they could be subjected to something similar to the dog program, where the dog doctor was going around to Aboriginal communities where there were too many dogs and putting a needle in them and putting them to sleep for good. That is the impression, and that is an example, that I give. When government officers use an Aboriginal interpreter to communicate with the Aboriginal client, the effect can be long-term changes in a person’s behaviour or health.
Overall, there are 285 registered interpreters who speak 140 languages. We know, on this side in this Martin government, that with the development of an Aboriginal Interpreter Service operating fully, it can only benefit the Territory much better in how we communicate with each other and how we progress towards the future.
Madam SPEAKER: Can we please have quicker answers. That one was very lengthy.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. Contrary to the shadow spokesman on Aboriginal affairs who, I was told, was talking this morning on the radio about this very topic. I want to, hopefully, put him straight. This government is committed to making real changes to the outcomes for Aboriginal Territorians. We understand that the key in achieving that is to actually communicate with Aboriginal people in their first language. The budget paper that you refer to ...
Mr Elferink: Is minus $24 000.
Mr AH KIT: Paper number 2 is a notional figure.
Mr Elferink: Oh, it’s notional. It is written in black and white. It is notional, is it?
Mr Dunham: What happened to transparency and honesty in budget?
Mr AH KIT: The shadow minister does not understand that what has happened here is that, because we inherited the $107m black hole, what we have been able to do was direct Treasury to come up with some figures where there could be some cuts made. That was up to the CEOs. So the notional figure that you see there, and what you are referring to, is $24 000 being notionally suggested to the acting CEO, Graham Symons. Graham Symons sat down with the management committee of my new department and has quarantined the Aboriginal Interpreter Service. I could have passed this all on to the shadow minister had he sought a briefing but he wants to play politics with it, and obviously we are politicians. I will straighten him up on this one but, hopefully, if he wants to, I am available for any members opposite if they wish to come and seek a briefing on any matters of concern in regards to my portfolio areas.
This government has provided the chief executive officers with a budget, and given them the responsibility for managing budgets in the way that the previous government did not. This Martin government’s priority on the Aboriginal Interpreter Service is well understood by the Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs.
There will not be a cut, as I said, to the Aboriginal Interpreter Service. The Aboriginal Interpreter Service is quarantined from mini-budget cuts. Quite the opposite ...
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: Just save your ‘hear, hear’ till you hear me out and then you can clap for me, thank you.
Quite the opposite is going to happen, in fact. The Aboriginal Interpreter Service is going to immediately benefit from two additional staff; one in the Darwin office and one in Alice Springs. The department has already identified a vehicle for the Alice Springs office; that represents an increase per annum of $120 000. Indeed, I understand that an officer has commenced in the Darwin office - that is this week - and we are looking to recruit a skilled officer for Alice Springs within the next couple of weeks.
There is certainly going to be no diminution of the important work of the Aboriginal Interpreter Service. The people running the Aboriginal Interpreter Service will be supported as strongly as the migrant services around Australia were supported when they commenced their operations over 20 years ago, in some instance. This government will ensure that this service is utilised by those public servants who deal with non-English speaking Aboriginal people. There is a commitment to making their job for those who deliver the service easier, relieving the heavy workload so that all Territorians benefit long-term.
Around 80% of Aboriginal people living in remote communities in the Northern Territory speak an Aboriginal language before English. Many do not speak English at all. The consequences, in terms of the so-called antisocial behaviour, over-representation in the criminal justice system, poor health outcomes, have had high costs borne out by this government. Justice and health outcomes can be more successfully addressed if both parties actually understand each other.
To give an example, I said in the euthanasia debate, some five years ago, about the concerns Aboriginal people had in the bush when they spoke to me - especially the elderly people - about having to come into town and to go into hospital. There was no interpreter service and they did not know what sort of diagnosis was going to be made of them. They did not know what sort of treatment they were going to get, and they had fears that they could be subjected to something similar to the dog program, where the dog doctor was going around to Aboriginal communities where there were too many dogs and putting a needle in them and putting them to sleep for good. That is the impression, and that is an example, that I give. When government officers use an Aboriginal interpreter to communicate with the Aboriginal client, the effect can be long-term changes in a person’s behaviour or health.
Overall, there are 285 registered interpreters who speak 140 languages. We know, on this side in this Martin government, that with the development of an Aboriginal Interpreter Service operating fully, it can only benefit the Territory much better in how we communicate with each other and how we progress towards the future.
Madam SPEAKER: Can we please have quicker answers. That one was very lengthy.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016