❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks information on the implementation and funding of language services policies within various government agencies, revealing varying levels of compliance and expenditure. The answers highlight different approaches to providing translation and interpreting services.
AnsweredQoN 6480Legislative 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 Minister’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 Minister please table all policies which have been produced and are readily available to agency staff and clients; and
(d) in each agency, can the Minister 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 Minister’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 Minister please table all policies which have been produced and are readily available to agency staff and clients; and
(d) in each agency, can the Minister please list which situations have been identified where interpreters and translators must, should or may be used?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 December 2011
Responded by
Minister for Transport; Housing
Response time
30 days
The Department of Housing advises:
(a) The Department's Language Services policy was implemented in January 2000.
(b) $383 451.76
Translating and Interpreting Service.
(c) The document is publically available on the Department of Housing website.
(d) Any person may use interpreting and translation services in the course of communicating with the Department and accessing any of its services.
The Department of Transport advises:
(a) Not applicable
(b) $26 313.76
Absolute Translations Ltd
Corporate Express Australia
GEON Group Limited
(c - d) Not applicable
Main Roads WA advises:
(a) In 2008 the provision of translating and interpreting services were incorporated in Main Roads Western Australia's Complaints Handling Corporate Policy and Procedure.
(b) Department of Immigration and Citizenship Translating and Interpreting Service - $21
Translators International - $17 641.82
(c) Not applicable
(d) Main Roads Western Australia has opted for the ad-hoc purchasing method where services are acquired based on demand and usage.
The Public Transport Authority advises:
(a) Not applicable
(b) Since 2008, the Public Transport Authority has spent $57 554.22 (including GST) on various activities directed at culturally and linguistically diverse communities. This includes:
6EBA-FM Radio, GEON Group, Cooch Creative, Mitchells, Nexus Network, various translators and interpreting services.
(c) Not applicable
(d) All culturally and linguistically diverse community members are able to ring the Public Transport Authority's translating and interpreting services number and be connected to the Transperth InfoLine or CommentLine and the cost is borne by the Public Transport Authority. Furthermore, if a culturally and linguistically diverse community member is having difficulty communicating at a Transperth InfoCentre (the walk-in information centres), the staff member will make a call to translating and interpreting services and then conduct a three-way conversation with the customer, the translating and interpreting services translator and the staff member. A telephone with a direct line to translating and interpreting services has been set up at Wellington Street Bus Station for this purpose.
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
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(a) The Department's Language Services policy was implemented in January 2000.
(b) $383 451.76
Translating and Interpreting Service.
(c) The document is publically available on the Department of Housing website.
(d) Any person may use interpreting and translation services in the course of communicating with the Department and accessing any of its services.
The Department of Transport advises:
(a) Not applicable
(b) $26 313.76
Absolute Translations Ltd
Corporate Express Australia
GEON Group Limited
(c - d) Not applicable
Main Roads WA advises:
(a) In 2008 the provision of translating and interpreting services were incorporated in Main Roads Western Australia's Complaints Handling Corporate Policy and Procedure.
(b) Department of Immigration and Citizenship Translating and Interpreting Service - $21
Translators International - $17 641.82
(c) Not applicable
(d) Main Roads Western Australia has opted for the ad-hoc purchasing method where services are acquired based on demand and usage.
The Public Transport Authority advises:
(a) Not applicable
(b) Since 2008, the Public Transport Authority has spent $57 554.22 (including GST) on various activities directed at culturally and linguistically diverse communities. This includes:
6EBA-FM Radio, GEON Group, Cooch Creative, Mitchells, Nexus Network, various translators and interpreting services.
(c) Not applicable
(d) All culturally and linguistically diverse community members are able to ring the Public Transport Authority's translating and interpreting services number and be connected to the Transperth InfoLine or CommentLine and the cost is borne by the Public Transport Authority. Furthermore, if a culturally and linguistically diverse community member is having difficulty communicating at a Transperth InfoCentre (the walk-in information centres), the staff member will make a call to translating and interpreting services and then conduct a three-way conversation with the customer, the translating and interpreting services translator and the staff member. A telephone with a direct line to translating and interpreting services has been set up at Wellington Street Bus Station for this purpose.
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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