❓ A WA parliamentary question examines the implementation and expenditure related to the Western Australian Languages Services Policy across agencies within the Premier's portfolio since 2008, revealing varying levels of compliance and resource allocation.
AnsweredQoN 6469Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
In relation to the Western Australian Languages Services Policy, launched by Premier Colin Barnett in 2008, which states that Government agencies are required to have policies for funding and delivering translating and interpreting services that take account of relevant Government policy, legal circumstances and the needs of potential and current clients, I ask:
(a) what policies in each agency in the Premier’s departments have been implemented, and when;
(b) what funding and expenditure has been incurred since 2008 on translation and interpreting services by which agencies and to whom was the funding paid;
(c) can the Premier please table all policies which have been produced and are readily available to agency staff and clients; and
(d) in each agency, can the Premier please list which situations have been identified where interpreters and translators must, should or may be used?
(a) what policies in each agency in the Premier’s departments have been implemented, and when;
(b) what funding and expenditure has been incurred since 2008 on translation and interpreting services by which agencies and to whom was the funding paid;
(c) can the Premier please table all policies which have been produced and are readily available to agency staff and clients; and
(d) in each agency, can the Premier please list which situations have been identified where interpreters and translators must, should or may be used?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
20 February 2012
Response time
111 days
Government agencies in the Premier's portfolio advise:
Department of the Premier and Cabinet:
(a) Nil
(b) $7,233
(c) Not applicable
(d) Assessed on a case-by-case basis
Department of State Development:
(a) Department of State Development has no published policy on the use of translating and interpreting services. The Department will use internal staff with foreign language skills to provide any translation or interpreting services required. On specific occasions involving senior overseas delegations, the Department may engage professional translation service providers.
(b) Expenditure is limited to internal staff time only with professional translators engaged at hourly rates.
(c) Department of State Development has no published translation and interpreting services policy.
(d) Department of State Development uses interpreters and translators as required to assist in discussions between departmental staff and overseas clients, both in Australia and overseas.
Public Sector Commissioner:
(a) Public Sector Commission contacts are predominately with public sector authorities and their employees who are proficient in English. Therefore the need for interpreters/translators is minimal. The Public Sector Commission uses the
WA Language Services Policy 2008
as it's guide.
(b) Public Sector Commission has employed the following associations.
WA Deaf Society $180 incl GST / Christy Joyce- Chinese translation $10 incl GST / Translation House $507.38 incl GST.
(c) Public Sector Commission does not have a standalone policy as the
WA Language Services Policy 2008
is used as a guide.
(d) Public Sector Commission abides by the minimum standards for using interpreting and translating services as identified in the
WA Language Services Policy 2008
.
Salaries and Allowances Tribunal:
(a -d) The Salaries and Allowances Tribunal has not utilised translating or interpreting services since 2008 and in view of the Tribunal's clients, there is no foreseeable need to do so. The Tribunal has the capacity to access language services should the need arise.
Gold Corporation:
(a) Gold Corporation does not use interpreting services as it has multi cultural staff who can interpret when it is required. Very occasionally do we use translation services.
(b) Our translation cost since 2008 is $5,299.68 and no funding was provided.
(c) Gold Corporation's policy is to translate all foreign language legal contracts.
(d) Translators are only used for legal documents if in-house language skills are insufficient.
Lotterywest:
(a) Lotterywest has not formally implemented the Western Australian Languages Services Policy to date but would arrange translation of documents or for interpreting services where appropriate.
(b-d) Not applicable.
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Department of the Premier and Cabinet:
(a) Nil
(b) $7,233
(c) Not applicable
(d) Assessed on a case-by-case basis
Department of State Development:
(a) Department of State Development has no published policy on the use of translating and interpreting services. The Department will use internal staff with foreign language skills to provide any translation or interpreting services required. On specific occasions involving senior overseas delegations, the Department may engage professional translation service providers.
(b) Expenditure is limited to internal staff time only with professional translators engaged at hourly rates.
(c) Department of State Development has no published translation and interpreting services policy.
(d) Department of State Development uses interpreters and translators as required to assist in discussions between departmental staff and overseas clients, both in Australia and overseas.
Public Sector Commissioner:
(a) Public Sector Commission contacts are predominately with public sector authorities and their employees who are proficient in English. Therefore the need for interpreters/translators is minimal. The Public Sector Commission uses the
WA Language Services Policy 2008
as it's guide.
(b) Public Sector Commission has employed the following associations.
WA Deaf Society $180 incl GST / Christy Joyce- Chinese translation $10 incl GST / Translation House $507.38 incl GST.
(c) Public Sector Commission does not have a standalone policy as the
WA Language Services Policy 2008
is used as a guide.
(d) Public Sector Commission abides by the minimum standards for using interpreting and translating services as identified in the
WA Language Services Policy 2008
.
Salaries and Allowances Tribunal:
(a -d) The Salaries and Allowances Tribunal has not utilised translating or interpreting services since 2008 and in view of the Tribunal's clients, there is no foreseeable need to do so. The Tribunal has the capacity to access language services should the need arise.
Gold Corporation:
(a) Gold Corporation does not use interpreting services as it has multi cultural staff who can interpret when it is required. Very occasionally do we use translation services.
(b) Our translation cost since 2008 is $5,299.68 and no funding was provided.
(c) Gold Corporation's policy is to translate all foreign language legal contracts.
(d) Translators are only used for legal documents if in-house language skills are insufficient.
Lotterywest:
(a) Lotterywest has not formally implemented the Western Australian Languages Services Policy to date but would arrange translation of documents or for interpreting services where appropriate.
(b-d) Not applicable.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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